Meta has reached a $25 million settlement with former U.S. President Donald Trump over a lawsuit he filed in 2021, claiming wrongful censorship by Facebook and Instagram following the U.S. Capitol riot. The agreement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks a significant legal victory for Trump.
According to sources familiar with the deal, $22 million of the settlement will go toward funding Trump’s future presidential library, while the remaining amount will cover legal fees and payments to other plaintiffs involved in the case. Despite the payout, Meta has not admitted any wrongdoing regarding the suspension of Trump’s accounts.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the settlement to AFP.
Trump had previously criticized social media platforms for banning his accounts in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, insurrection, arguing that they silenced his voice. However, he has recently sought to mend ties with key tech figures, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X owner Elon Musk, both of whom attended his recent presidential inauguration in Washington.
Zuckerberg has expressed support for Trump and made policy adjustments at Meta to ease content restrictions across its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp. Earlier this month, he announced a rollback of fact-checking operations, stating that Meta was committed to “restoring free expression on our platforms.” Reports also suggest Zuckerberg and Trump dined together at Trump’s Florida estate in November.
This settlement is part of a broader trend of media corporations preparing for a potential second Trump presidency. In December, ABC News paid a $15 million settlement to resolve a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump over comments made by a top anchor.
Meanwhile, Meta reported a strong financial performance on Wednesday, revealing a 59% surge in net income to $62.36 billion for the full year.
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