Meta Settles Trump Lawsuit for $25 Million Over Account Suspension After January 6 Capitol Attack

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Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump after the company suspended his accounts following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The lawsuit, filed by Trump in July 2021, accused Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, of "censoring" his social media accounts, alleging that the suspension violated the First Amendment and constituted "illegal, shameful censorship of the American people".

The settlement terms include $22 million being directed to a nonprofit organization that will become Trump's future presidential library. The remaining $3 million will cover legal fees and other litigants involved in the case. This agreement follows a series of negotiations that began after Zuckerberg visited Trump in November 2024 at his private Florida club, where they discussed resolving the litigation.

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The settlement is part of a broader trend of large corporations settling with the president, who has been known to retaliate against critics and rivals. Meta's actions are also seen as an effort to align with the new Trump administration, which has included dropping fact-checking on its platform and making a $1 million donation to Trump's inaugural committee.

Trump has been involved in multiple lawsuits against media companies, arguing that he has been unfairly targeted. For instance, he has filed suits against ABC News and CBS News over defamation and alleged misinformation.