Meta Platforms has agreed to pay approximately $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump over the suspension of his accounts following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump had sued Twitter (now X), Facebook (now Meta), and Google’s YouTube in July 2021, alleging they unlawfully censored conservative viewpoints. His Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended after he spread false claims about election fraud, which his supporters cited as justification for storming the Capitol.
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Under the settlement terms, $22 million will be allocated to a fund for Trump’s presidential library, while the remaining amount will cover legal fees and payments to other plaintiffs in the case.
Meta officially filed a notice regarding the settlement in a federal court in San Francisco. The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations resumed after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club in November.
The agreement comes amid Meta’s broader efforts to improve relations with Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the company’s political content policies. In December, Meta made a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund, signaling a shift in its stance.
The social media giant has also made significant policy changes in recent months, including shutting down its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, ending its U.S. fact-checking initiative, and easing restrictions on discussions about contentious topics like immigration and gender identity.
Additionally, Meta appointed Joel Kaplan, a well-known Republican, as its chief global affairs officer and added Dana White, the CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a close Trump ally, to its board.
