Google-owned YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump over the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riots.
The settlement marks the latest development in the ongoing legal battles between Trump and major tech companies regarding content moderation.
Under the settlement, $22 million will be paid on Trump’s behalf to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit dedicated to constructing a $200 million ballroom at the White House. The remaining $2.5 million will go to other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union and US author Naomi Wolf. YouTube did not admit wrongdoing and will not make product or policy changes under the settlement.
The lawsuit was part of a series of legal actions Trump initiated against major social media platforms in July 2021, accusing them of unlawfully silencing conservative viewpoints. Meta and X had previously settled their lawsuits with Trump, with Meta paying $25 million and X paying around $10 million. Trump’s account was suspended after the January 6 Capitol riot due to concerns about promoting further violence with false claims of voter fraud.
Trump’s account has since been restored, and he posted “I’M BACK!” after his channel was reinstated in March 2023. YouTube initially suspended Trump’s channel on January 12, 2021, citing violations of its policies against inciting violence. The platform later restored his account, weighing the risk of harm against the public’s interest in hearing from a major candidate.
The settlement highlights the complex relationship between tech companies and high-profile figures, raising questions about free speech and content moderation. Legal experts have questioned the validity of Trump’s claims, citing the First Amendment’s protection of private companies’ editorial discretion. Despite this, tech companies have opted to settle with Trump, potentially to mitigate future legal risks.
This settlement is part of Trump’s broader legal strategy, which includes actions against media outlets like The New York Times and Dow Jones. Since his re-election, Trump has secured over $80 million in settlements from lawsuits targeting Big Tech and media companies.
