Trump Wins Legal Battle As Meta Settles For $25 Million Over Account Suspensions

Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to President Donald Trump to resolve a lawsuit over the company’s decision to suspend his accounts in 2021. The settlement, which was formalized Wednesday in California, puts an end to legal claims that Meta engaged in politically motivated censorship.

Trump filed the lawsuit after Meta, then known as Facebook, removed his accounts following the Jan. 6 protests. The company justified the decision by claiming that his posts encouraged violence, later announcing that he would be banned for at least two years. Trump and his legal team argued that the ban was part of a broader effort to silence conservative voices.

Under the terms of the settlement, $22 million will go toward funding Trump’s presidential library, while $3 million will cover legal fees and other claimants in the case. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the agreement.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has reportedly sought to mend relations with Trump since his reelection. He attended Trump’s inauguration and was one of several tech leaders given a prime seat at the ceremony. In November 2024, he met privately with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where the lawsuit was discussed.

Meta’s decision to settle comes as other major corporations adjust their strategies under the new administration. The company also contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee and recently changed its content moderation policies, scaling back its fact-checking efforts.

The settlement follows other recent legal victories for Trump, including a defamation payout from ABC News last month. The network agreed to contribute $15 million to Trump’s presidential library as part of the resolution to that case.