Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump after the company suspended his accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. This settlement is part of a trend where large corporations resolve litigation with the president, who has a history of taking action against his critics and rivals.
The terms of the agreement include $22 million going to a nonprofit that will become Trump's future presidential library, with the remaining balance allocated for legal fees and other litigants. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on this settlement.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, visited Trump in November at his private Florida club in an attempt to mend fences with the incoming president. This meeting led to two months of negotiations between the parties, culminating in the settlement. Meta also made a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural committee.
Before Trump's inauguration, Meta announced it was discontinuing fact-checking on its platform, a move that aligns with the preferences of Trump and his allies. Trump filed the lawsuit against social media companies months after his first term ended, accusing them of engaging in 'illegal, shameful censorship of the American people.'
Under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, social media platforms have the right to moderate their services by removing posts that violate their standards. However, Trump and other politicians have argued that platforms like X, Facebook, and Twitter have abused this protection and should face consequences.
ABC News recently settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump, agreeing to pay $15 million toward his presidential library. The network also agreed to cover $1 million in legal fees for Trump's attorney. Trump has been involved in other legal battles with media outlets, including CBS News and The Des Moines Register, over claims of unfair coverage and alleged violations of consumer protection laws.
