Meta agrees to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit with President Donald Trump over his 2021 account suspension, raising questions about social media policies and free speech.
At a Glance
- Meta settles with Trump for $25 million over 2021 account suspension
- $22 million will fund Trump’s Presidential library, $3 million for legal fees
- Settlement follows discussions between Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago
- Meta makes policy changes to allow more types of speech on its platforms
- Trump’s suspension to be fully lifted by July 2024
Meta’s $25 Million Settlement with Trump
In a significant development for both the tech industry and political sphere, Meta Platforms has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump. The lawsuit stemmed from the suspension of Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. This settlement marks a turning point in the ongoing debate about social media platforms’ role in moderating political speech.
The settlement, while substantial, does not include any admission of wrongdoing by Meta. Of the $25 million, $22 million will be allocated to fund Trump’s Presidential library, with the remaining $3 million covering legal fees and other plaintiffs. This resolution comes after Meta’s initial indefinite suspension of Trump’s accounts was reduced to a two-year ban, with final constraints lifted in July 2024.
Meta agrees to pay $25M to settle lawsuit from Trump after Jan. 6 suspension https://t.co/tlZLZWq9wA pic.twitter.com/a6w4XEHENb
— New York Post (@nypost) January 29, 2025
Implications for Social Media Policy
The settlement raises important questions about the balance between enforcing community guidelines and protecting free speech on social media platforms. Meta’s decision to settle rather than continue litigation suggests a willingness to reassess its approach to handling politically influential users. This case may set a precedent for how social media companies manage controversial content without compromising their stated values or appearing politically biased.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has reportedly made policy changes to allow more types of speech across the company’s platforms. These changes, along with the elimination of certain diversity and inclusion initiatives, signal a shift in Meta’s content moderation strategy. Zuckerberg’s praise for the Trump administration’s support of American tech companies further indicates a potential thawing of relations between the former president and the social media giant.
Trump is a wrecking ball: “Meta agrees to pay $25M to settle lawsuit from Trump after Jan. 6 suspension: $22 million going to the nonprofit that will become Trump’s future presidential library and the balance going to legal fees and other litigants.” https://t.co/EINp305lsS
— Ashkan Karbasfrooshan (@ashkan) January 30, 2025
The path to this settlement began in November when Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. It comes on the heels of another high-profile settlement in December 2024, where ABC News agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit with Trump, with the funds earmarked for Trump’s future Presidential foundation and museum.