Meta To Pay Trump $25 Million To Settle 2021 Censorship Lawsuit
Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to former President Donald Trump to settle a federal lawsuit filed in 2021 over the suspension of his Facebook and Instagram accounts following the January 6 Capitol riots.
The lawsuit accused Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg of “impermissible censorship” and alleged First Amendment violations after Trump’s social media ban. The settlement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, includes a $22 million allocation to Trump’s presidential library.
A letter from Meta’s attorney, K. Winn Allen, submitted to a Northern California court on January 29, confirmed that both parties had reached an agreement and would soon request the case’s dismissal.
The settlement marks a significant win for Trump, as Meta had previously fought the case, arguing that private companies are not subject to First Amendment restrictions. Trump’s legal team, however, claimed that Meta acted under government pressure when suspending his accounts.
In recent months, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made moves that appear to rebuild ties with Trump and conservatives:
Ending Meta’s fact-checking program, which had faced criticism from Trump supporters.
Promoting Republican lobbyist Joel Kaplan to lead Meta’s global affairs.
Appointing Trump ally Dana White to the company’s board of directors.
This settlement follows another major payout to Trump—in December 2024, ABC News paid $15 million to settle a lawsuit regarding its coverage of E. Jean Carroll’s accusations against Trump.
Trump’s lawsuit alleged that Meta suspended him under political pressure rather than for violating company policies. Meta’s attorneys countered that Trump was removed for inciting violence, not due to congressional influence.
The case had been a flashpoint in debates over free speech and social media regulation, with Trump and his allies accusing Big Tech of bias against conservative voices.
