President Donald Trump has reached a $25 million settlement with Meta after suing the company for removing his accounts from Facebook and Instagram in 2021. The agreement, finalized Wednesday in California, ends a lawsuit that accused the tech giant of political bias and unfair censorship.
Meta suspended Trump’s accounts after the Jan. 6 protests, citing policy violations. The ban, initially indefinite, was later adjusted to a two-year suspension. Trump challenged the move in court, arguing that Meta’s decision was part of a larger effort to silence conservative voices.
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
Under the terms of the settlement, $22 million will be allocated to a fund for Trump’s presidential library, with $3 million covering legal fees and compensating other plaintiffs. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the details.
Zuckerberg met privately with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in late 2024, where the lawsuit was reportedly a topic of discussion. The tech executive later attended Trump’s inauguration and co-hosted an event alongside other business leaders.
Meta has taken additional steps to mend relations with the Trump administration. The company contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee and has made adjustments to its approach to fact-checking and content moderation.
Other media outlets have also reached settlements with Trump in recent months. ABC News recently agreed to pay $15 million in a defamation case linked to comments made on-air by one of its anchors.
