Meta Agrees to $25 Million Settlement in Trump Censorship Lawsuit – What’s Next?
Meta Platforms has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump in 2021, following the suspension of his Facebook and Instagram accounts after the January 6 Capitol attack. Of this settlement, $22 million will fund Trump’s presidential library, while the remaining $3 million will cover legal fees and compensate co-plaintiffs. Meta did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
The lawsuit had seen little progress since late 2023 but gained momentum after a meeting between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November. This settlement is part of a broader trend of tech companies resolving legal disputes with Trump, as seen with recent settlements by ABC News and Paramount Global.
Meta has also made policy changes, such as ending third-party fact-checking and appointing Republican figures to key positions, in efforts to align more favorably with Trump.