WASHINGTON: Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to U.S. President Donald Trump to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2021, accusing the tech company of unfairly blocking him from Facebook and Instagram following the U.S. Capitol riot.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the settlement of the lawsuit against Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which was seen as a victory for Trump.
According to individuals familiar with the agreement, the Journal reported that $22 million of the payment will be allocated towards funding Trump’s future presidential library, with the remainder covering legal fees and payments to other plaintiffs in the case.
Meta will not admit to any wrongdoing over the suspensions of Trump’s accounts in the settlement.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the settlement to AFP.
Trump had widely criticized social media platforms for suspending his accounts after the January 6, 2021, insurrection by his supporters, and comments he made that were viewed as praising those involved in the violence.
However, he has recently fostered relationships with tech titans, including Zuckerberg and X owner Elon Musk, both of whom attended Trump’s presidential inauguration last week in Washington.
Zuckerberg has expressed support for Trump and has adjusted Meta’s policies to lift restrictions on certain content across its apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Zuckerberg stated that Meta would be “restoring free expression on our platforms,” and he announced a rollback of fact-checking operations earlier this month, after dining with Trump at his Florida estate in November.
The settlement marks the latest move by media corporations as they prepare for a second Trump presidency.
In December, ABC News agreed to pay a $15 million settlement to resolve a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump over on-air comments made by a prominent anchor.
On Wednesday, Meta reported a 59% increase in its net income, reaching $62.36 billion for the full year.
