In 2021, Meta suspended Donald Trump from Facebook due to his role in the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Reacting to this, Trump filed a federal lawsuit against the company, claiming First Amendment violations. Recent reports indicate he has achieved a significant win in this case, as Meta has agreed to pay him a $25 million settlement to resolve the allegations of “impermissible censorship.” According to The Wall Street Journal, “Meta Platforms has agreed to pay roughly $25 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit that President Trump brought against the company and its CEO after the social-media platform suspended his accounts following the attack on the U.S. Capitol that year, according to people familiar with the agreement.”
Of the settlement, $22 million will be allocated to a fund for Trump’s presidential library, with the remainder covering legal fees and benefiting other plaintiffs involved in the case. Notably, Meta will not admit any wrongdoing, and Trump finalized the settlement agreement on Wednesday in the Oval Office. The Wall Street Journal further noted that negotiations for the lawsuit gained traction after a dinner meeting between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida last November, seen as part of Meta’s strategy to strengthen its relationship with Trump.
There were clear conditions set, as a source mentioned that Trump insisted the lawsuit’s resolution was necessary before Zuckerberg could be “brought into the tent.” Alongside suing Meta, Trump also filed legal actions against Twitter (now X), YouTube, and their parent companies and executives. However, a federal judge dismissed the case against Twitter, and the lawsuit against Google was administratively closed in 2023.
This news incited various reactions in the comments section of the story. One user remarked, “META will do whatever it takes to stay on Trump’s transactional good side. It’s good for business. Most of these tech CEOs learn well from Tim Cook’s 2017 approach to Trump.” Another commenter reflected on Trump’s history with lawsuits: “The Trump name has always been synonymous with lawsuits. Always pursuing attention and sympathy for his grievances and quests to enrich himself while breaking and insulting others. It’s an important tool for the nightmare named Trump.” A user expressed their discontent: “What a world! Trump incites an insurrection in which policemen are beaten and some die. Trump is rejected. Trump creates a lawsuit. In the end, his disgusting behavior is rewarded. Sickening. Trump’s term cannot end soon enough.”
Another comment echoed skepticism about the relationship between Zuckerberg and Trump: “Well, I think this is Zuck cozying up to Trump some more. They had every right to ban whoever they wanted. This is a private concern; Freedom of Speech doesn’t enter into it. This is him making hugs and kisses to Trump.” One person questioned the settlement’s implications: “So if I get blocked or suspended by Facebook, I should be entitled to a $25 million settlement if I don’t agree with the suspension? I can guarantee that my reason for suspension would be far less damaging or offensive than what Trump allowed to happen on January 6th.” Clearly, this settlement hints at a potential thawing of relations between Trump and Zuckerberg.
