Auto-followed Trump on Facebook after inauguration? Here is why

After a new president is inaugurated, the accounts of the previous administration are archived, preserving posts and followers, which are then moved to the new administration’s profiles.

By: Express Web Desk
Updated: January 22, 2025 07:40 AM IST

1 min read

US President Donald Trump and his wife First Lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day of his second presidential term in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS)

Some users of Facebook and Instagram were caught off guard this week when they found themselves automatically following the accounts of US President Donald Trump or Vice President JD Vance, after the new president’s inauguration.

However, the mix-up is due to a system that transfers followers from archived official accounts to the newly sworn-in leaders’ profiles.

This story requires a subscription

Select a plan and use IE10 code to get 10% extra off

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

This story requires a subscription

Please Select A Plan

POPULAR

EXPRESS EDGE

Daily ePaper access

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Premium stories & archives

UPSC Section + UPSC Essentials Magazine

Starts at ₹133/month

Best for UPSC aspirants

Meta spokesman Andy Stone clarified the process in a Threads post, explaining that official accounts like those of the President, Vice President, and First Lady are managed by the White House and change with each new administration. After a new president is inaugurated, the accounts of the previous administration are archived, preserving posts and followers, which are then moved to the new administration’s profiles.

As of Tuesday morning, both Joe Biden’s archived POTUS account and Trump’s official POTUS account retained 11 million followers each on Facebook. Users who no longer wish to follow these accounts can easily unfollow or block them by clicking the ellipsis on the profile page.