Meta Agrees to $25 Million Settlement with Trump Over Facebook Ban

[Social Media]

 

Former President Donald Trump has reached a $25 million settlement with Meta, resolving a lawsuit he filed in 2021 after the company suspended his Facebook accounts in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.  

 

Trump’s accounts were taken offline following the events of that day, during which his supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential victory. In the lead-up to the attack, Trump had repeatedly used his social media platforms to claim, without evidence, that the 2020 election had been stolen. On January 6, he urged his followers near the Capitol to “fight like hell.”  

 

The settlement, signed Wednesday, comes shortly after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was seen attending Trump’s inauguration alongside other prominent billionaires and tech executives. In recent months, their previously strained relationship appears to have improved, with Zuckerberg dining with Trump at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the election. The meeting was reportedly part of broader efforts to repair ties between Meta and the new administration.  

 

According to sources familiar with the agreement, Trump raised the issue of the lawsuit during his dinner with Zuckerberg in November, suggesting that resolving the case would be necessary before he could be “brought into the tent.” Zuckerberg later returned to Florida for a mediation session in early January, during which Trump briefly stepped away to attend proceedings in his hush money trial.  

 

As part of its broader outreach, Meta also donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.  

 

Trump’s lawsuit against Meta was one of several legal actions he launched in July 2021, months after leaving office. He also sued Twitter—now known as X under Elon Musk’s ownership—and YouTube, arguing that social media companies had unfairly censored him. His complaint against Meta claimed that widespread online censorship created a "chilling effect" on political, medical, social, and cultural discourse in the United States.  

 

Trump’s suspension from Facebook and Instagram followed scrutiny of his role in the January 6 riot, with Meta concluding that his posts violated platform policies. However, the former president has since regained access to his accounts.  

 

The settlement marks the latest chapter in Trump’s complex relationship with major tech companies, with both political and business interests shaping the evolving dynamics between the former president and Silicon Valley’s most powerful executives.

 

Based on a report by The Independent 2025-01-31

 

 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

25 million $,  seems fair!

[thaibeachlovers]

Ooh that's gotta hurt- not the money ( small change ), but the humiliation!

[Watawattana]

I'm sure Meta did a Business Case when offering this amount.  I'm sure it made good business sense... 😜

[The Old Bull]

Zuckerberg owns the site, he can ban whoever he wants. Giving  Trump $25 million is disgusting, for sure he bought something but we will never know. Outright corruption with no attempt to hide it.

[Hummin]

56 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Ooh that's gotta hurt- not the money ( small change ), but the humiliation!

Zuckerberg

 

Mr bend over, he follows the wind. Can't trust him.

[frank83628]

Seems quite low figure for election interference

Notice how he ditched the Woke mob, DEI mob and now democrats

[pacovl46]

Pathetic! What a suck up! 

[BritManToo]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

Trump had repeatedly used his social media platforms to claim, without evidence, that the 2020 election had been stolen.

From the number of votes cast in the previous and next elections, I find it completely credible.

14M votes mysteriously appeared for just that one 2020 election!

 

[Purdey]

It is about time countries banned contributions from third parties to just $25,000 each.

[Hummin]

17 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Seems quite low figure for election interference

Notice how he ditched the Woke mob, DEI mob and now democrats

You mean the Russian intererfernce and X this election, as well Tik Tok? 

 

Why else would Biden punish them on his way out? 

 

You guys are so single minded, that even served right in front of you, you couldn't see the truths. 

[oustaristocrats]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Zuckerberg

 

Mr bend over, he follows the wind. Can't trust him.

 

Yes, and the other tech CEOs are not much different. Just look the fear in their eyes behind the smiles at the inauguration.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

It is about time countries banned contributions from third parties to just $25,000 each.

 

The maximum contribution to election funds in Australia is AUD20,000, about USD14,500- 

[Yellowtail]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

It is about time countries banned contributions from third parties to just $25,000 each.

Eliminate all third-party contributions and make the limit $500.

 

All donations must be from individuals with TINs and must got direct to the candidates. 

[Thingamabob]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

From the number of votes cast in the previous and next elections, I find it completely credible.

14M votes mysteriously appeared for just that one 2020 election!

 

Nobody has been able to explain how Biden came up with 81 million  repeat 81 million, votes in 2020, the highest number ever cast, by a long way.  for any presidential candidate.

[oxo1947]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

The maximum contribution to election funds in Australia is AUD20,000, about USD14,500- 

 

Australia 26 million and you have to vote by law---America  335 million (That they know of) free to vote or not

[Purdey]

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

 

The maximum contribution to election funds in Australia is AUD20,000, about USD14,500- 

Very good!

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Eliminate all third-party contributions and make the limit $500.

 

All donations must be from individuals with TINs and must got direct to the candidates. 

Agree, that's getting closer to making all citizens able to afford to run as a candidate.

 

How wonderful.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, oxo1947 said:

 

Australia 26 million and you have to vote by law---America  335 million (That they know of) free to vote or not

 

So what's your point?

[KannikaP]

So MEGA gives MAGA a mighty load of moolah.