Meta Platforms, Facebook’s parent company, has reportedly agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former US President Donald Trump. The suit alleged censorship after Meta suspended his Facebook and Instagram accounts in 2021 following the Capitol riot.
The settlement includes $22 million earmarked for Trump’s presidential library fund, with the remaining amount covering legal fees and compensating other plaintiffs. Though Meta has not publicly disclosed the terms, multiple US media outlets confirmed the resolution, citing sources familiar with the matter. The company did not admit any wrongdoing but decided to settle after prolonged litigation and discussions.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November 2024 reportedly intensified these talks. In an effort to mend relations with Trump, Meta discontinued its third-party fact-checking program in the US earlier this month. In a video address, Zuckerberg acknowledged that the services had been too politically biased and destroyed more trust than they created.
Zuckerberg also admitted that the changes were influenced by the recent political climate, including Trump’s election victory. “The recent elections feel like a cultural tipping point toward once again prioritizing speech,” he said, promising to reduce censorship. Meta has also decided to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and revise its hiring practices.
Trump originally filed lawsuits against Twitter, Google, and Facebook for censorship in 2021, arguing that if these companies could ban a sitting US president, they can do it to anyone. His suit against Twitter was dismissed in May 2022, while Elon Musk was acquiring the company.