Meta has agreed to pay former U.S. President Donald Trump $25 million to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2021, alleging wrongful censorship by Facebook and Instagram following the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot, the company confirmed Wednesday.
The settlement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, is seen as a legal victory for Trump, who had long criticized social media giants for suspending his accounts.
Settlement Terms
According to sources familiar with the agreement, $22 million of the settlement will go toward funding Trump’s future presidential library, while the remainder will cover legal fees and payments to other plaintiffs in the case.
Despite the payout, Meta will not admit any wrongdoing regarding its decision to suspend Trump’s accounts. A company spokesperson confirmed the settlement to AFP but declined further comment.
Trump’s Ongoing Tech Engagement
Trump has previously attacked major social media platforms over his ban, arguing they silenced conservative voices. His posts following the Capitol riot were widely seen as inciting or praising the violence.
In recent months, however, Trump has been engaging with Silicon Valley leaders, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X owner Elon Musk. Both attended Trump’s presidential inauguration last week in Washington.
Zuckerberg has since modified Meta’s content policies, lifting restrictions on certain types of content across Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Meta’s Policy Shift and Industry Trends
Meta’s decision to settle the lawsuit comes amid broader changes in the company’s content moderation approach. Earlier this month, Zuckerberg announced a rollback of fact-checking operations, stating the company aimed to “restore free expression” on its platforms.
The settlement is the latest instance of media corporations reaching agreements with Trump ahead of his potential second term in office. In December, ABC News agreed to pay a $15 million settlement to resolve a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump over comments made by a top anchor.
Meanwhile, Meta reported a strong financial performance on Wednesday, with net income surging 59% to $62.36 billion for the full year.
