YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump after the platform suspended his account in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
This makes YouTube the last of the major tech platforms sued by Trump, after Meta and Twitter/X, to reach a financial settlement over his removal.
How the Money Will Be Used
According to court documents:
- $22 million will go to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit associated with supporting the construction of a White House State Ballroom.
- The remaining $2.5 million will be distributed among other plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including:
- The American Conservative Union
- Andrew Baggiani
- Austen Fletcher
- Maryse Veronica Jean-Louis
- Frank Valentine
- Kelly Victory
- Naomi Wolf
YouTube’s parent company, Google, did not issue a public statement beyond pointing to the official settlement filing.
No Admission of Fault
The legal document clearly states that the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability. YouTube agreed to pay to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.
Trump Celebrates the Deal
Trump reacted on Truth Social, calling the outcome a “MASSIVE victory” and saying it proves that “Big Tech censorship has consequences.”
Other Platforms Have Already Settled
This is the third major settlement Trump has secured this year:
- Meta reportedly paid $25 million (including donations and legal fees).
- X (formerly Twitter) agreed to settle for around $10 million.
Why Trump Was Suspended
YouTube suspended Trump’s account in January 2021, citing a video that allegedly violated its policies against inciting violence. His channel was restored in March 2023 so voters could “hear equally from major national candidates.”
Trump’s lawsuit argued that the suspension violated his free speech rights.
Big Tech Has Been Softening Its Stance
Since Trump’s return to the political spotlight:
- Elon Musk reinstated Trump’s X account in late 2022.
- Meta restored Trump’s accounts in early 2023.
- YouTube restored his channel soon after.
Social media companies have also eased their content moderation policies—particularly around political speech and claims of election fraud.
Just last week, YouTube announced it would:
- Reinstate some previously banned accounts
- Roll back certain misinformation rules
- Emphasize the importance of “conservative voices” in civic debate
The Bottom Line
The settlement ends Trump’s legal battles with all three major tech giants over his 2021 suspensions. While YouTube did not admit wrongdoing, the payout marks another symbolic win for Trump as he continues to campaign and rebuild his online presence.
