Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay $25 million to former U.S. President Donald Trump to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2021. The lawsuit accused Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, of unfairly suspending his accounts following the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
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According to the settlement terms, $22 million of the payment will go toward funding Trump’s future presidential library, while the remaining sum will cover legal fees and compensation for other plaintiffs involved in the case. Meta will not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the agreement. The Wall Street Journal first reported the settlement, and a Meta spokesperson later confirmed it to AFP.
Background of the Legal Battle
Trump sued Meta in 2021 after the company suspended his accounts in the wake of the Capitol riot, where his comments were widely seen as inciting or praising the violence. The social media ban was initially set for at least two years, with Meta citing the risk of further unrest.
Trump also filed lawsuits against Twitter (now X) and Google, alleging that major tech companies were silencing conservative viewpoints. In 2022, after acquiring Twitter, Elon Musk reinstated Trump’s account following a user poll, though Trump has continued to primarily use his own platform, Truth Social.
Thawing Relations Between Trump and Zuckerberg
Trump has been a vocal critic of Zuckerberg and Facebook, calling the platform “anti-Trump” in 2017 and labeling it an “enemy of the people” in 2024. However, relations between the two have shifted in recent months.
Following Trump’s election victory in November 2024, Zuckerberg visited Mar-a-Lago for a private dinner with the former president. In December, Meta made a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, signaling a warming of ties between the two. Zuckerberg also attended Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, seated alongside other tech leaders.
Meta has since moved to roll back some of its more stringent content moderation policies. In January, the company ended its U.S. fact-checking program, scrapped its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and reduced restrictions on discussions about politically sensitive topics such as immigration and gender identity. Zuckerberg defended these changes, calling them part of an effort to restore “free expression” across Meta’s platforms, which also include Threads and WhatsApp.
Meta’s AI Investments
The settlement comes as Meta continues to make significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI). The company recently announced plans to spend up to $65 billion this year to expand its AI infrastructure.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed concerns about competition from Chinese AI firms like DeepSeek, stating that the company remains committed to open-source AI development. He argued that this approach would help maintain U.S. leadership in the AI sector.
Meta has reported strong financial performance, with net income soaring by 59% to $62.36 billion in 2024. The company’s stock price has remained resilient despite recent turbulence in the tech sector, fueled by investor confidence in its AI strategy.
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Meta’s settlement with Trump follows a similar legal resolution between the former president and ABC News in December 2024. The news network agreed to pay Trump $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit related to on-air comments made about him.