Meta pays $25M to settle Trump's lawsuit over account ban
What's the story
Meta is settling a $25 million lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump in 2021. The suit was filed after Meta suspended Trump's accounts in the wake of the January 6 riots at US Capitol the same year. The building was attacked by a mob of supporters of Trump in a self-coup attempt, two months after his 2020 election defeat.
Agreement details
Settlement discussions between Trump and Zuckerberg
The settlement agreement was discussed during Trump's recent meeting with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Mar-a-Lago, as per The Verge. An unnamed source told The Wall Street Journal that Trump had suggested the lawsuit needed resolution before any further engagement with Zuckerberg could take place. The settlement will send $22 million to Trump's presidential library funds and legal fees. This move is a testament to Trump's significant sway over corporate America.
Legal history
Background of Trump's lawsuit against Meta
In 2021, Trump filed a class-action lawsuit against Meta, demanding damages for himself and other users whose accounts were "wrongly restricted or curtailed." This came after Facebook announced indefinite suspension on Trump's accounts for his posts during the insurrection. Zuckerberg had then said, "The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden."