Meta has reached a $25 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a lawsuit he filed against the company after his social media accounts were suspended following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to sources familiar with the matter. The agreement marks another instance of a major corporation seeking to mend relations with the Trump administration as tech executives work to navigate the shifting political landscape.
Under the terms of the settlement, $22 million will be directed towards the nonprofit entity responsible for Trump’s future presidential library, while the remainder will cover legal fees and additional litigants. The deal follows a broader effort by technology leaders, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to establish stronger ties with the Trump administration.
Zuckerberg reportedly met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in November, where the president suggested resolving the litigation. This led to two months of negotiations, culminating in the settlement. The move aligns with similar overtures by other Silicon Valley executives, who are keen to maintain influence in Washington under the new administration.
The agreement also follows Meta’s decision to discontinue its fact-checking program, a move long demanded by Trump and his allies. Additionally, Meta contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee, a gesture that underscores the shifting relationship between the company and the administration.
Trump’s lawsuit, filed after his first term ended, had accused Meta and other tech giants of engaging in “illegal censorship” by suspending his accounts. However, platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Google have long maintained that they act within their rights under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which allows private companies to moderate content on their platforms without liability for user-generated posts.
The settlement follows a $15 million payment from ABC News last month towards Trump’s presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over inaccurate on-air statements by anchor George Stephanopoulos regarding Trump’s legal history. The network also paid an additional $1 million in legal fees.
Trump has pursued a litigious approach against media organisations, arguing they have unfairly targeted him. He currently has active lawsuits against CBS News, The Des Moines Register, and Gannett, accusing them of misleading election coverage and voter interference.
With Silicon Valley recalibrating its approach to Washington, the Meta settlement signals a wider trend of corporate diplomacy, as major firms seek to navigate the shifting regulatory and political landscape under Trump’s leadership.
