Meta Settles Lawsuit With Trump Over Suspended Accounts

Thursday 30 January 2025 - 14:34

Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to resolve a lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the suspension of his social media accounts following the Capitol attack in January 2021.

A company spokesperson confirmed the settlement, specifying that $22 million would be allocated to Trump's presidential library, while the remainder would cover legal expenses and other claimants.

The dispute originated in 2021 when Trump’s accounts were suspended after he alleged electoral fraud, leading to unrest among his supporters. Arguing that he was unjustly censored, Trump filed lawsuits against several major tech companies and their executives, accusing them of suppressing conservative voices.

Recently, Trump has engaged with influential tech figures, including Meta’s CEO and the owner of another major platform, both of whom attended his presidential inauguration in Washington, DC. The Meta CEO, who was given a prominent seat at the event, has since adjusted company policies, scaling back fact-checking and content moderation across its platforms. Additionally, Meta discontinued its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in January.

The company has also reshaped its leadership, appointing a well-known Republican as its chief global affairs officer and adding a high-profile business leader with close ties to Trump to its board.

In a break from previous decisions, Meta contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund in December. The company recently reported a 59% increase in net income, reaching $62.36 billion in 2024.