X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump for $10 million. The lawsuit stems from Trump’s ban following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, where he was accused of using the platform to incite false claims surrounding the 2020 election results.
The legal dispute, initially initiated under the leadership of Jack Dorsey, Musk’s predecessor, has now come to a resolution after Musk’s acquisition of X. After reinstating Trump’s account and developing a working relationship with the president, Musk’s platform ultimately opted to settle. This decision follows a similar settlement earlier this year when Meta, the parent company of Facebook, agreed to pay Trump $25 million, including $22 million to Trump’s presidential library, over its suspension of his account. Trump’s legal team is also considering similar actions against Google after YouTube banned Trump following the Capitol attack.
Trump’s attorneys had contemplated abandoning the lawsuit after his relationship with Musk deepened, with Musk even helping fund Trump’s re-election campaign with a $250 million contribution. However, the lawsuit proceeded, resulting in the $10 million settlement.
This legal outcome highlights the ongoing repercussions of Trump’s social media bans following the January 6 events, with several tech companies facing significant financial settlements as they respond to the political fallout from the 2020 election and the Capitol riot. Musk’s platform becomes the second major social media company to pay Trump in relation to these issues.
