Meta Platforms, Inc. has reached a settlement of $25 million to resolve a lawsuit brought forth by former President Donald Trump following the suspension of his accounts in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident. This agreement was detailed by three individuals who preferred to remain unnamed while discussing the confidential terms of the settlement.
According to the sources, of the $25 million, $22 million is designated for the nonprofit organization that will be establishing Trump’s future presidential library. The remainder of the funds will be allocated for legal expenses and the payments of other parties involved in the litigation.
The Wall Street Journal was the first outlet to report on this settlement. Notably, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg had a meeting with Trump in November at his Florida resort, aiming to smooth relations with the new administration—a move echoed by various business and technology leaders. During this gathering, Trump raised the issue of the lawsuit and expressed a desire to reach a resolution, which led to an extensive period of negotiations lasting roughly two months.
Additionally, Meta had contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration committee, and Zuckerberg was seen among several prominent figures, including tech giants such as Sundar Pichai from Google, Jeff Bezos from Amazon, and Elon Musk, at the swearing-in ceremony for Trump at the Capitol.
Prior to Trump’s inauguration, Meta made it known that it would discontinue its fact-checking practices—something that aligns with aspirations expressed by Trump and his supporters. Trump’s legal actions followed his first term during which he labeled the social media companies’ restraints on him as a form of “illegal, shameful censorship of the American people.”
It is significant to note that private firms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google require users to comply with their terms of service. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 permits these platforms to moderate their content, allowing for the removal of posts deemed obscene or violating their standards, so long as such moderation is conducted in good faith. The law generally protects internet companies from being liable for user-generated content.
Nevertheless, Trump and a number of other politicians have consistently argued that these social media platforms exploit this legal shield and should either have their immunity limited or entirely revoked.
This recent settlement follows another agreement reached by ABC News, which granted $15 million for Trump’s presidential library to resolve a defamation claim related to an inaccurate statement made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. ABC also compensated Trump’s legal team with $1 million in legal fees.
The financial contribution to Trump’s library by ABC has been categorized as a “charitable contribution,” intended for a nonprofit linked to the planned library.
Throughout his career, Trump has been known for his litigation against media organizations, claiming that he has faced unfair treatment from traditional news outlets. Recently, he has filed a lawsuit against CBS News, asserting that the network misrepresented an interview with his 2024 election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming it was meant to mislead the public and interfere with the election process.
Furthermore, he has taken legal action against The Des Moines Register, its parent company Gannett, and pollster Ann Selzer, accusing them of violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act for releasing a poll shortly before the election that he asserts misrepresented his support in the state. Both the pollster and the publication have denied any wrongdoing.
