Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to a $24.5 million settlement to resolve the lawsuit brought by Donald Trump over the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot. The deal makes Google the last of the three major tech platforms—Meta and X being the others—to settle legal action stemming from the temporary removal of the former President's social media accounts.
The lawsuit, filed by Trump after YouTube temporarily restricted his account following the riot, alleged that the company unlawfully silenced conservative viewpoints.
Key Details of the YouTube Settlement
Court documents reveal the breakdown of the multi-million dollar agreement:
$22 Million Contribution: The vast majority of the settlement will be paid on Trump’s behalf to the Trust for the National Mall, a non-profit organization. According to the filing, this sum is intended to support the construction of a large White House Ballroom.
$2.5 Million for Co-Plaintiffs: The remaining amount will be distributed among other plaintiffs in the case, which includes the American Conservative Union and author Naomi Wolf.
No Admission of Wrongdoing: YouTube, which reinstated Trump’s channel in 2023, did not admit any liability or agree to make changes to its product policies as part of the settlement.
Context of Big Tech Settlements
The YouTube settlement follows similar agreements reached earlier this year with the other two major platforms that suspended Trump’s accounts:
| Platform | Settlement Amount | Use of Funds |
| Meta (Facebook/Instagram) | Over $20 Million (approx. $25 million) | The majority of the funds were designated for a fund related to Trump's Presidential Library. |
| X (formerly Twitter) | $10 Million | X's settlement was also resolved earlier in the year. |
The series of multimillion-dollar settlements with the tech giants—Meta, X, and now YouTube—mark a significant victory for Trump and conclude the legal battles over his de-platforming in the wake of the 2021 Capitol attack.
