Robert Kennedy Jr.'s Instagram account has been restored

2025-04-20 08:45:35 source: category:Markets

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Instagram account has been reinstated, over a month after he announced his presidential bid, a spokesperson for Meta, the platform's parent company, said in a statement to CBS News on Monday. 

Kennedy, the nephew of the late president John F. Kennedy and son of former U.S. attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, complained last week that his personal account hadn't been reinstated despite launching his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president, saying it was "profoundly undemocratic" to not let him on Instagram. 

But over the weekend, his account with more than 770,000 followers was back up and running. 

"As he is now an active candidate for president of the United States, we have restored access to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s, Instagram account," a Meta spokesperson said. 

A Meta executive said in 2019 the company would not prevent a politician's speech from its reaching audience. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits "The Faulkner Focus" at Fox News Channel Studios on June 2, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images

Kennedy has been outspoken about his anti-vaccine advocacy. His account was previously removed from Instagram in 2021 after he repeatedly shared "debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines," a spokesperson for Meta said at the time. Instagram and Facebook's ban on Kennedy's anti-vaccine group, the Children's Health Defense, is still intact. 

Kennedy kicked off his campaign in Boston in April and called himself a "Kennedy Democrat," despite being linked to some far-right figures. His challenge to President Biden has little to no chance of succeeding, and his anti-vaccine stance is at odds with the overwhelming majority of Democrats. He announced he will speak about his campaign with Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces on Monday. 

Christopher Brito

Christopher Brito is a social media manager and trending content writer for CBS News.

More:Markets

Recommend

The seven biggest college football quarterback competitions include Michigan, Ohio State

The transfer portal has made tracking quarterbacks harder than ever. It's also simplified offseason

Philadelphia-area man sentenced to 7 1/2 years for his role in blowing up ATMs during 2020 protests

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia-area man was sentenced Wednesday to 7 1/2 years in prison for his

Dylan Sprouse and Cole Sprouse reunite with Phil Lewis for a 'suite reunion'

A "suite reunion" happened when actors Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse and Phil Lewis reunited at a movi