President Trump recently signed a settlement agreement at the White House to resolve the lawsuit he filed against Meta after the company suspended his account following the January 6th Capitol riot. As part of the deal, Meta will pay Trump approximately $25 million, with $22 million earmarked for a fund for his future presidential library. The remaining amount will go toward attorney fees and compensation for other plaintiffs involved in the case.
This settlement follows a series of moves by Meta to rebuild its relationship with Trump since his 2024 election victory. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has made efforts to align more closely with Trump, including donating $1 million to his inauguration and attending the event alongside cabinet members. Zuckerberg also relaxed some of Meta’s content moderation rules across its platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, by eliminating third-party fact-checking partnerships and shifting to a “community notes” approach, similar to the system used by X (formerly Twitter).
Trump and Zuckerberg discussed the lawsuit in person during a meeting at Trump’s club in November, shortly after the 2024 election. The settlement marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two, considering Trump had previously criticized Zuckerberg and Meta for their actions against him.
Meta has also taken steps in recent weeks that align with Trump’s views, including ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs—something Trump has frequently criticized. Additionally, Meta appointed Trump ally Dana White, the UFC president, to its board and made Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, its top policy executive. These actions reflect Meta’s shift toward a more conservative approach in its business practices and social media policies, particularly around content moderation, which has been a point of contention for Trump and his supporters.