Meta has agreed to pay former United States President Donald Trump $25 million to settle a lawsuit over the suspension of his Facebook and Instagram accounts after the 2021 Capitol riot.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the settlement, which does not include an admission of wrongdoing by Meta.
According to sources familiar with the agreement, $22 million of the payment will be used to fund Trump’s future presidential library, while the remaining amount will cover legal fees and payments to other plaintiffs in the case.
A spokesperson for Meta confirmed the settlement to AFP.
Trump had strongly criticized social media companies for banning his accounts, saying they unfairly censored him after the January 6, 2021, riot. His comments at the time were seen as encouraging violence.
Recently, Trump has shown a more friendly approach toward tech leaders, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X owner Elon Musk. Both attended his presidential inauguration last week in Washington.
Zuckerberg has also made changes to Meta’s policies, easing restrictions on certain content. Earlier this month, he announced a rollback of fact-checking operations, saying, “Meta is restoring free expression on our platforms.”
The settlement is one of several media-related agreements in recent months. In December, ABC News agreed to pay $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump over on-air comments made about him.
Earlier on Wednesday, Meta reported a 59% increase in net income, reaching $62.36 billion for the full year.
