Donald Trump has been blocked from using Facebook and Instagram “indefinitely and at least for the next two weeks”, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has said.
“We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote in a statement.
He wrote: “The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden.
“His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world.
“We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect — and likely their intent — would be to provoke further violence.”
Supporters of the outgoing president breached barricades and staged an occupation of the home of American democracy in Washington DC on Wednesday.
The chaos raged after Mr Trump gave his fans a jolt into action in a rally outside the White House and urged them to march to the Capitol.
Protesters then clashed with police, one woman died after being shot, and three other people died after suffering “medical emergencies”, according to police chief Robert Contee.
As politicians from across the spectrum condemned Mr Trump in the aftermath, the president committed to “an orderly transition” on January 20 after Congress belatedly certified Joe Biden's victory.
