YouTube to Pay $22 Million in Settlement with Donald Trump
YouTube has agreed to a $22 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump over the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The funds will be directed to a non-profit for the construction of a new White House State Ballroom. This is the latest in a series of multi-million dollar settlements Trump has reached with major tech companies, including Meta and X, challenging his deplatforming after the incident.
Unpacked:
YouTube suspended Trump's channel on January 12, 2021, citing violations of its policies against inciting violence in the aftermath of the Capitol riot.
Trump previously settled with Meta for $25 million and with X (formerly Twitter) for $10 million, resolving lawsuits over his removal from those platforms following the Capitol attack.
$22 million from the YouTube settlement will be contributed to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit supporting the construction of a new White House State Ballroom.
Trump argued that YouTube’s ban was unconstitutional and violated his First Amendment rights, claiming improper censorship by major tech platforms.