Photo: Alamy
YouTube has agreed to pay a $24.5 million settlement to President Donald Trump, ending his lawsuit against the video-sharing platform over its decision to suspend his account following the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The settlement, announced Monday, closes the final case in a series of lawsuits Trump filed against major social media companies that suspended him in the aftermath of the attack.
YouTube suspended Trump’s channel in early 2021 but restored it two years later, saying voters should have access to his content during his presidential campaign. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, restored Trump’s accounts in 2023.
The Wall Street Journal reported that YouTube’s settlement follows earlier agreements by other tech giants. Meta settled its lawsuit in January by paying Trump $25 million, and X, formerly known as Twitter, reached a $10 million settlement in February.
Terms of the YouTube settlement direct most of the funds to President Trump through the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall, which has designated the money for the construction of a new White House ballroom. About $2.5 million will be distributed to other plaintiffs involved in the case.
With Monday’s settlement, Trump has now resolved all three lawsuits filed against Big Tech platforms over his suspensions.
The president took to Truth Social to celebrate the legal victory.
“YouTube SURRENDERS! Pays President Trump $24.5 MILLION for illegal ban! This MASSIVE victory proves Big Tech censorship has consequences. Every shadowbanned patriot deserves justice!” It continues, “Trump fought for free speech and WON! Repost if ALL banned conservatives should be paid!”
Under the settlement, YouTube, Google and parent company Alphabet did not admit to any wrongdoing and did not agree to change any policies or products.
Separately, Alphabet revealed last week that YouTube will soon reinstate creators who were previously banned under now-retired rules, including those that barred content spreading misinformation about the 2020 U.S. presidential election and COVID-19.