Meta agrees to pay Trump $25 million to settle lawsuit over social media suspension
Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the suspension of his social media accounts after the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
The lawsuit accused Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg of “censoring” Trump’s account and violating his First Amendment rights.
Meta’s settlement does not require an admission of wrongdoing and comes after Zuckerberg’s attempts to mend his relationship with Trump, including attending his inauguration and ending DEI programs.
The $25 million settlement is expected to fund Trump’s presidential library in Phoenix, Arizona, which will serve as a platform for his continued political activism.
This settlement follows a similar case where ABC News agreed to pay $15 million to resolve a dispute over a George Stephanopoulos interview, with both settlements being used to fund Trump’s foundation and museum.
However, in a letter submitted to the court, Meta’s attorneys wrote, “I write to inform the Court that the parties have reached an agreement to settle the named plaintiffs’ individual claims and resolve this matter.”
The settlement, which does not require Meta to admit wrongdoing in suspending Trump’s accounts, comes as Zuckerberg has attempted to mend his relationship with Trump, attending his inauguration earlier this month and making multiple trips to Mar-a-Lago.
In line with this, Meta has also donated $1 million to Trump’s campaign, ended its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and revamped its fact-checking policy.
The $25 million settlement is expected to be a major source of funding for Trump’s presidential library, which is currently under construction in Phoenix, Arizona. The library is expected to be a hub for Trump’s legacy and a platform for him to continue his political activism.
ABC News agrees to pay $15 million to resolve a dispute with Trump
Meta is the second major corporation to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump since he won his second term in the November election.
The lawsuit, filed shortly after the March interview, accused Stephanopoulos of defaming him when the news anchor asked Republican Representative Nancy Mace about Trump’s treatment of women and the E. Jean Carroll case.
At that time, Stephanopoulos mentioned that Trump “has been found liable for rape by a jury,” a statement that was disputed by Trump’s lawyers, who argued that Stephanopoulos knowingly or recklessly made false and disparaging statements.
However, in January, the case was resolved, with the network admitting regret over certain statements made during the broadcast.
“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing,” an ABC News spokesperson said in an email.
The settlement, released on Jan. 25, mandates that the 15 million be transferred to a Presidential foundation and museum that Trump plans to establish. Additionally, ABC, along with Stephanopoulos, will pay $1 million to cover Trump’s legal expenses. The network has also agreed to append a note to an online article about the interview, expressing regret for the “statements” made regarding Trump.
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