Meta Settles account ban Lawsuit With Trump For $25 Million

Meta Settles With Trump: $25 Million Agreement Following Controversial Account Suspensions

Meta Platforms has reached an agreement to pay President Donald Trump $25 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from claims that he was wrongly censored on Facebook and Instagram after the events of January 6, 2021. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the settlement, has characterized it as a significant victory for Trump, who has long criticized social media platforms for their decision to suspend his accounts during that period.

Under the terms of the settlement, $22 million will be allocated for the future establishment of Trump’s presidential library. The remainder of the funds will cover legal fees and compensation for other plaintiffs involved in the case. Importantly, Meta has clarified that the agreement does not amount to an admission of any wrongdoing regarding Trump’s account suspensions.

A spokesperson for Meta confirmed the settlement details to AFP. Trump has publicly condemned social media companies for the actions taken against his accounts, framing the suspensions as infringements on free speech, particularly in light of his comments that were perceived as supportive of individuals participating in the Capitol riots.

Recently, Trump has been working to rebuild relationships with influential tech leaders, including Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter). Notably, both Zuckerberg and Musk attended Trump’s presidential inauguration earlier this month in Washington. Zuckerberg has voiced a supportive stance towards Trump and has modified Meta’s content policies to lessen restrictions on its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. He expressed a commitment to “restoring free expression” across these platforms in announcing changes to fact-checking policies.

This settlement adds to a surrounding trend in which media companies appear to be feeling the impact of Trump’s potential return to the presidency. In December, for example, ABC News agreed to a $15 million settlement in a defamation case filed by Trump over comments made by a prominent anchor.

Additionally, on the same day the settlement was announced, Meta reported a remarkable 59 percent increase in its annual net income, totaling $62.36 billion, underscoring the company’s robust financial performance.