Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has reached a settlement with former U.S. President Donald Trump, agreeing to pay approximately €24 million ($25 million) to resolve a lawsuit related to the suspension of his social media accounts following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. The funds will primarily support the development of Trump’s presidential library, with a portion allocated for legal fees.
Trump filed the lawsuit after his accounts on Facebook and Instagram were suspended in the aftermath of the Capitol attack, accusing the company of “illegal censorship” and claiming it infringed on his rights. The lawsuit sparked a broader debate about the role of social media platforms in moderating content and whether they have overstepped their boundaries in limiting free speech.
According to sources familiar with the deal, $22 million of the settlement will be directed to the non-profit organization overseeing Trump’s future presidential library. The remaining funds will cover legal costs and other associated fees. The agreement marks the resolution of a legal battle that began months after Trump left office, highlighting the ongoing tensions between politicians and major tech companies over content moderation and platform policies.
The settlement follows a period of strained relations between Meta and Trump, but recent efforts have been made to smooth over these differences. In November, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where the two discussed the lawsuit and initiated negotiations. This development is part of a broader effort by Zuckerberg and other tech industry leaders to engage with the incoming Trump administration.
The lawsuit and subsequent settlement come amid a wider push from Trump and his allies to challenge the protections granted to social media companies under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This law provides platforms with immunity from liability for user-generated content but also allows them to moderate content in good faith. Trump and many of his supporters argue that social media companies have abused this protection, particularly in relation to conservative viewpoints.
This agreement follows a series of legal settlements involving Trump, including one in which ABC News agreed to pay $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library over a defamation lawsuit. The former president has also filed multiple lawsuits against media companies, including CBS News and The Des Moines Register, accusing them of unfair coverage and election interference.
As part of the settlement, Meta has also made contributions to Trump’s inaugural committee, continuing the ongoing financial and political engagement between the company and the former president.
References:
- The Wall Street Journal
- ABC News
- The Des Moines Register
