For ads-free news, click here.
From the Wall Street Journal: Meta Platforms has agreed to pay roughly $25 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit that President Trump brought against the company and its CEO after the social-media platform suspended his accounts following the attacks on the U.S. Capitol that year, according to people familiar with the agreement.
Of that, $22 million will go toward a fund for Trump’s presidential library, with the rest going to legal fees and the other plaintiffs who signed onto the case. Meta won’t admit wrongdoing, the people said. Trump signed the settlement agreement Wednesday in the Oval Office.
A Meta spokesman confirmed the settlement.
Serious talks about the suit, which had seen little activity since the fall of 2023, began after Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg flew to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to dine with him in November, according to the people familiar with the discussions. The dinner was one of several efforts by Zuckerberg and Meta to soften the relationship with Trump and the incoming administration. Meta also donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Last year, Trump warned that Zuckerberg could go to prison if he tried to rig the election against him.
According to the report, Trump brought up the issue of the lawsuit toward the end of the dinner with Zuckerberg in November. Trump reportedly told Zuckerberg this had to be settled before Zuckerberg could be “brought into the tent.”
In early January, ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Zuckerberg announced, “We’re going to dramatically reduce the amount of censorship on our platforms.”
Meta’s Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said it was attempting to restore free expression on its platforms. The pivot comes as Zuckerberg looks to build ties with the incoming Trump administration.
Read more: https://t.co/sdnVeKEwW3 pic.twitter.com/ETTfv2X6Sp
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 7, 2025
Exclusive: Trump signed an agreement that would require Meta to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit. The president sued in 2021 after his accounts were suspended. https://t.co/Lph3mfIbT8
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 29, 2025
Journalist George Behizy joked, “President Trump really invited Zuckerberg to his inauguration and still sent him a $25 million bill just days after 😂😂😂 PAY UP, Zuck!”
Preaident Trump really invited Zuckerberg to his inauguration and still sent him a $25 million bill just days after 😂😂😂
PAY UP, Zuck! pic.twitter.com/hVxmcOuSx4
— George (@BehizyTweets) January 29, 2025
🚨BREAKING: Meta to pay President Trump $25 million to resolve a lawsuit resulting from the company suspending his accounts. pic.twitter.com/a861pRUHRR
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 29, 2025
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
