Meta to pay $25 m to resolve lawsuit filed by Trump regarding the suspension of his social media accounts

 Meta has reached a $25 million settlement with former President Donald Trump to resolve a federal lawsuit from 2021 that accused the company of violating First Amendment rights after suspending him from Facebook and Instagram following the January 6 Capitol riots. 

This agreement addresses Trump's claims of "impermissible censorship" against Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

 A Meta representative confirmed the settlement amount, noting that approximately $22 million will be allocated to Trump's presidential library. 

Although the specific settlement figure was not disclosed in a court letter from Zuckerberg's attorney, it was stated that both parties intend to request the dismissal of the case soon. 

This outcome marks a notable win for Trump and reflects Zuckerberg's attempts to mend relations with him, following years of friction. 

Zuckerberg, who previously supported Trump's inaugural fund, has made several moves to align with Trump, including ending Meta's fact-checking program and appointing Trump ally Dana White to the board, signaling a shift in their dynamic.

Meta's legal representatives had been contesting the lawsuit, asserting in court documents that it lacked merit, as "Meta and its CEOs are private parties" and the First Amendment pertains solely to government censorship of speech. 

Trump's lawsuit alleged that Meta suspended his accounts due to pressure from elected officials, claiming that Meta acted under government influence. 

In rebuttal, Meta's legal team clarified that the suspension was a result of violations of policies against inciting violence, rather than any statements from Congress members.

 They further argued in their legal filing that it was illogical to link a private entity's actions to the government based on isolated comments from individual lawmakers. 

This payout to Trump marks the second financial settlement in recent months, following ABC News's $15 million payment to him in December to resolve a lawsuit related to coverage of E. Jean Carroll's allegations of sexual abuse.