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| Meta determined that Trump's posts incited violence during the Capitol attack | Photo: ET |
Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump over the suspension of his Facebook and Instagram accounts following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The settlement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, resolves Trump’s legal battle against Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Trump’s accounts were removed after Meta determined that his posts incited violence during the Capitol attack.
Background of the Lawsuit
On January 6, 2021, as Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Following the riot, several major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (now X), and YouTube, suspended or banned Trump’s accounts, citing concerns over incitement of violence.
Meta initially suspended Trump indefinitely, but later set a two-year suspension, with a review scheduled in January 2023. His accounts were reinstated in early 2023, but by then, Trump had already moved to his own platform, Truth Social.
Settlement Details
According to sources familiar with the agreement:
- $22 million of the $25 million settlement will be allocated to Trump’s future presidential library fund.
- The remaining amount will cover legal fees and other expenses for additional plaintiffs in the case.
The settlement does not include an admission of wrongdoing by Meta. However, legal analysts suggest it is a significant victory for Trump, reinforcing his claims that big tech unfairly targeted him.
Trump’s Response and Political Implications
Trump has repeatedly called social media bans unfair censorship and a violation of free speech rights. In response to the settlement, Trump’s campaign issued a statement saying:
“This is a clear admission that Big Tech colluded to silence a sitting U.S. president. We fought back, and we won.”
With Trump running for president again in 2024, this settlement could strengthen his argument that social media platforms have political biases against conservative voices.
Trump previously criticized Meta’s decision, calling it politically motivated censorship. However, recent developments suggest a shift in Trump’s relationship with tech leaders. Both Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk attended Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., on January 20, signaling their support for his administration.