Meta has agreed to pay a $25 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump in 2021.
The lawsuit was initiated after Meta suspended Trump’s social media accounts in response to the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Wall Street Journal first reported the settlement, and Meta spokesperson Andy Stone later confirmed the news to The Verge.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Trump recently discussed the lawsuit with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago. According to The Journal, Trump suggested that resolving the case would be necessary before Zuckerberg could be considered for a role in his circle of influence. The White House and Trump’s advisors have yet to comment on the development.
Under the terms of the settlement, $22 million will be allocated to Trump’s presidential library funds, with the remaining amount covering legal fees. The case had remained largely inactive since 2023, and Trump’s chances of winning appeared slim, especially after similar lawsuits against Twitter (now X) and Google faced dismissals or closures. However, with Trump’s return to the White House, corporate leaders, including Zuckerberg, are increasingly acknowledging his influence and adopting a more strategic approach in their interactions with his administration.
Trump initially filed the lawsuit as a class action, arguing that Meta had wrongfully restricted his account and those of other users. Facebook had imposed an indefinite suspension on his account following his posts during the Capitol riot, with Zuckerberg stating at the time that Trump was attempting to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden. Eventually, Meta lifted the restrictions on Trump’s accounts.
