Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump in 2021. The lawsuit stemmed from Trump’s suspension from the company’s platforms following the January 6 Capitol riots. The settlement was confirmed by What’s Trending on Thursday, January 30, 2025, and filed in federal court in San Francisco on Wednesday, January 29.
According to NBC News, the settlement includes $22 million to be directed into a fund for Trump’s presidential library, while the remaining $3 million will cover legal fees and compensation for other plaintiffs involved in the case. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the settlement, noted that Trump signed the agreement in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Background of the Lawsuit
Trump’s legal action against Meta began after his indefinite suspension from Facebook and Instagram on January 7, 2021, following the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the suspension, calling the events of January 6 “shocking.” He stated that Trump’s use of the platforms to condone rather than condemn the actions of the rioters had undermined the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden, who had won the 2020 election.
In his statement at the time, Zuckerberg explained that Trump’s actions “clearly demonstrated his intent to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power.” This decision to suspend Trump’s accounts came after the Capitol insurrection, which resulted in deaths, injuries, and widespread damage to the U.S. Capitol building.
Settlement Follows Previous Financial Connections
The settlement comes nearly four years after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017, a high-profile event also attended by other tech CEOs like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. At the time, Zuckerberg faced scrutiny for his decision to attend, despite later harshly criticizing Trump’s use of social media. In fact, Zuckerberg had previously called Trump’s actions on the platforms “incitement of violent insurrection” against the U.S. government. Meta also donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund in 2017, marking an early sign of financial and personal connections between the tech company and the then-president.
Legal Actions Against Social Media Companies
Trump’s lawsuit against Meta was part of a broader legal battle following his suspension from social media platforms after the Capitol attack. The former president had also filed lawsuits against Twitter (now X) and Google. His lawsuit against Twitter was dismissed by a judge, while a case against Google was closed administratively in 2023.
In his 2021 lawsuit, Trump accused Meta of violating his First Amendment rights by suspending his accounts. The suit claimed that his suspension was a form of censorship and that it unfairly silenced his political speech. Despite the settlement, Meta’s decision to suspend Trump’s account remains a contentious issue, as critics argue it represented an overreach by a private company into public political discourse.
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Criticism of the Settlement
The settlement has faced criticism from some quarters. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a vocal critic of large tech companies, described the deal as “a bribe” and warned that it could set a dangerous precedent for corporate influence over political matters. “After Meta pays to play, what does Mark Zuckerberg expect as a return on this investment?” she said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal.
The timing of the settlement also raised eyebrows. It follows a month after news that ABC News had agreed to pay $15 million in charitable contributions to Trump’s presidential library to resolve a libel lawsuit. Trump had filed the suit after ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos misrepresented details of a civil case involving Trump and writer E. Jean Carroll. While Trump was found liable for sexual abuse, Stephanopoulos inaccurately stated that Trump had been found liable for rape.
Pardons and Legal Maneuvering
In addition to the Meta settlement, Trump’s legal battles continue to unfold as he enters his second term as president. Notably, Trump has pardoned around 1,500 individuals who were charged in connection with the January 6 attack. One of those pardoned was fatally shot by police following a traffic stop in Indiana. Another pardoned rioter is now wanted by Texas authorities for allegedly soliciting a minor online.
As Trump faces legal challenges, including several lawsuits and criminal investigations, the settlement with Meta represents just one piece of his ongoing efforts to navigate the legal landscape following his presidency. While the terms of the agreement may bring some closure to his legal battle with Meta, questions remain about the broader implications for social media policies and political speech in the digital age.
The Meta settlement is likely to have lasting effects on the way tech companies handle political figures and content moderation, particularly in the wake of the unprecedented events of January 6. As both the tech industry and the political landscape continue to evolve, the deal may set a precedent for future interactions between social media platforms and political leaders.