Meta has agreed to pay Donald Trump $25 million to settle a 2021 federal lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations. The lawsuit was filed after Trump was suspended from Facebook and Instagram following the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Trump claimed that Meta engaged in “impermissible censorship” by removing him from the platforms, while Meta argued that Trump was suspended for violating policies against inciting violence.¹
As part of the settlement, about $22 million will go to Trump’s presidential library. This payout marks a significant victory for Trump and is seen as another step in Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to court him. Zuckerberg has been trying to improve his relationship with Trump, despite their past tensions. Interestingly, Zuckerberg was among the Silicon Valley executives who contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first payout to Trump in recent months. In December, ABC News agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit over their coverage of E. Jean Carroll’s sexual abuse allegations against Trump.