Meta will pay President Donald Trump $25 million to resolve a lawsuit over the company’s suspension of his social media accounts. The settlement, made public Wednesday, ends a legal dispute that began after Trump was banned from Facebook and Instagram in 2021.
Trump’s accounts were taken down following the Jan. 6 protests, with Meta citing concerns about public safety. The company initially issued an indefinite ban before revising it to a two-year suspension. Trump later sued, arguing that the company was engaging in politically motivated censorship against conservatives.
Fork It Over, Zuck: Meta Agrees to Pay Donald Trump $25 Million for Suspending His Account https://t.co/U98xZpX5z3
— It’s Chinatown, Jake (@DetectiveJake1) January 30, 2025
As part of the settlement, $22 million will be allocated to a fund for Trump’s presidential library, while $3 million will cover legal costs and compensate additional plaintiffs. The Wall Street Journal first reported the details of the agreement.
Zuckerberg met with Trump in November 2024 at Mar-a-Lago to discuss various issues, including the lawsuit. The tech executive later attended Trump’s inauguration and was seen alongside other high-profile business leaders during the ceremony.
Meta has made additional efforts to mend relations with Trump’s administration. Alongside the settlement, the company donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee and scaled back its fact-checking program.
Trump has recently secured other legal victories. ABC News settled a separate lawsuit by agreeing to contribute $15 million to his presidential library.
