YouTube Pays Trump $24.5M to Settle Account Suspension Suit
YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over the suspension of his account in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The agreement, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, closes one of the last legal battles Trump launched against major social media companies for removing him from their platforms during a politically volatile moment. According to the settlement, YouTube’s decision to resolve the case “shall not constitute an admission of liability or fault” by the company or its parent, Alphabet.
Under the terms of the deal, $22 million will go to the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall, which will direct the funds toward the construction of a new White House State Ballroom. The remaining $2.5 million will be distributed to several pro-Trump groups and individuals, including the American Conservative Union and conservative author Naomi Wolf. The financial breakdown reflects similar patterns seen in other settlements Trump has secured with social media giants this year, where large sums are channeled into nonprofit projects or organizations linked to his political base.
Trump originally filed lawsuits against YouTube, Meta, and Twitter in 2021, accusing the companies of wrongful censorship and arguing that their actions violated his rights. The platforms had suspended his accounts following the Capitol attack, saying his posts risked inciting further violence as rioters clashed with police and breached the congressional chambers. YouTube, while not fully deleting his account, barred Trump from uploading new videos at the time. The account was restored in 2023, more than two years later.
The YouTube settlement follows similar agreements struck earlier this year with the other tech giants. Meta agreed in January to pay $25 million to resolve its case with Trump, while X settled in February for about $10 million.
The timing of the settlement also comes as YouTube revises its approach to content moderation. Just last week, the platform announced it would reinstate some accounts previously banned for repeatedly posting misinformation, including content related to the 2020 election. The combination of restored accounts, softened policies, and high-profile settlements suggests a changing relationship between Silicon Valley and the Trump administration, one that may have significant implications for how online speech is governed during the president’s second term.
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