Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by former U.S. President Donald Trump over the suspension of his account following the January 2021 Capitol riots, according to a court filing on Monday.
Last Tech Giant to Settle
This development makes Google the final major tech company to resolve lawsuits Trump filed in July 2021 against YouTube, Twitter (now X), and Facebook parent Meta. Trump had accused all three platforms of unlawfully silencing conservative viewpoints.
Earlier this year:
- Meta reached a settlement of about $25 million in January.
- X (formerly Twitter) agreed to pay roughly $10 million in February.
With YouTube’s settlement, the legal battles spanning more than four years have effectively concluded.
Where the Money Goes
Under the agreement:
- $22 million will be paid on Trump’s behalf to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit linked to the construction of a $200 million ballroom at the White House, expected to be completed well before Trump’s current term ends in January 2029.
- The remaining funds will be distributed among other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union (organizers of CPAC) and author Naomi Wolf.
YouTube, while agreeing to the payment, did not admit any wrongdoing and will not alter its policies as part of the settlement.
Trump’s Account History
Trump was not permanently removed from YouTube in 2021 but was suspended from uploading new content. His account was restored in 2023, marking his return to the platform amid his political resurgence.
The settlement now clears the final chapter in Trump’s legal clash with Silicon Valley giants.
