YouTube has agreed to pay President Donald Trump $24.5 million to settle his lawsuit over the removal of his channel following the January 6th Capitol riot, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The deal makes YouTube the last of three major tech companies to resolve litigation filed by Trump shortly after leaving office.
Meta previously agreed to a $25 million payout, while X (formerly Twitter) settled for $10 million. Together, the settlements have delivered nearly $60 million in total.
Sources familiar with the matter claim Trump is channeling the funds into a $200 million renovation of the White House ballroom, a project that is reportedly being supplemented by “patriot donors” to cover the balance.
Trump’s YouTube channel was initially suspended for seven days in January 2021 after the platform flagged one of his videos as incitement to violence.
The suspension later turned into an indefinite ban, with YouTube stating his account would only be restored once the “risk of violence had decreased.”
Two years later, in March 2023, Trump’s account was reinstated in time for his second presidential run. YouTube explained its decision by citing its policy of ensuring voters had access to content from major political candidates ahead of elections.
The settlement closes another chapter in Trump’s ongoing battle with Big Tech companies, which he has repeatedly accused of political bias and censorship.
Legal analysts note that while the settlements did not result in judicial rulings on free speech claims, they illustrate the significant financial stakes involved when social media platforms take action against high-profile political figures.
