Meta, Trump reach $25 million deal after lawsuit over Capitol riot suspension

Meta has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump in 2021 for $25 million, following the suspension of his social media accounts after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

The settlement, first reported by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by a Meta spokesperson, allocates $22 million to a fund for Trump’s presidential library, with the remaining funds covering legal fees and compensating other plaintiffs involved in the case, per Caliber.Az.

The White House has yet to comment on the matter.

Trump’s lawsuit against Facebook, now under Meta, was part of a broader legal battle with social media companies after the Capitol riot. He also sued YouTube, Twitter (now X), and their executives, though a federal judge dismissed the Twitter lawsuit. The Google case was closed in 2023, but it can still be reopened.

Following the Capitol insurrection, Facebook suspended Trump’s accounts for spreading false claims about election fraud and stating that he won the 2020 election. At that time, Facebook updated its policies to allow suspensions of political figures in cases of civil unrest and violence. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, explained that the decision was made because the risks of allowing Trump to continue using the platform during such a volatile period were too great. As a result, Facebook imposed the maximum penalty, suspending Trump’s accounts indefinitely.

Trump was vocal in his opposition to the suspension, claiming it was an attempt to silence him. “They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing, and ultimately, we will win,” he said at the time. He also vowed, “Next time I’m in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife. It will be all business!”

Months later, Facebook reduced the suspension to two years, and in 2023, Trump’s access to the platform was reinstated. Similarly, Twitter and YouTube also allowed him back onto their platforms.

Zuckerberg’s relationship with Trump has since improved. The two have met several times, with Zuckerberg attending Trump’s inauguration and hosting a black-tie party in his honour during the inaugural celebrations.

Settlement talks began in November when Zuckerberg dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump insisted that the lawsuit had to be resolved before Zuckerberg could join him in future discussions. 

In early January, Zuckerberg returned to Mar-a-Lago for a day-long mediation session, after which Meta announced the lifting of platform restrictions and a return to a more open policy on political content. Echoing Trump’s concerns, Zuckerberg stated, “It’s time to get back to our roots” and acknowledged that censorship had become an issue online.

By Tamilla Hasanova