Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Former President Donald Trump has reached a settlement with Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, following a 2021 lawsuit he filed over the suspension of his social media accounts. Sources close to the settlement indicate that Meta will pay approximately $25 million to resolve the dispute.
The lawsuit arose from Meta’s decision to suspend Trump’s accounts in the wake of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Initially, Facebook (then under its parent company Meta) suspended Trump’s account and, in June 2021, imposed a two-year ban, citing concerns that his posts related to the riot incited violence and posed a threat to public safety. Twitter, now rebranded as X and owned by Elon Musk, also blocked Trump for similar reasons.
In response, Trump filed lawsuits against both Facebook and Twitter, alleging that their actions violated his First Amendment rights, claiming the platforms engaged in unconstitutional censorship. His lawsuit sought to challenge Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields social media companies from liability for content posted by users. Trump also demanded the restoration of his accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and sought to prevent these platforms from imposing editorial control over his posts.
As part of the settlement, $22 million of the payment will be directed to a fund for Trump’s presidential library, with the remaining amount covering legal costs and compensating other plaintiffs involved in the case. In addition, Meta had previously donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended his inauguration.
Legal News
January 28, 2025Trump’s Request for Immunity and Its Legal Implications
