Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to pay former President Donald Trump $25 million to settle a lawsuit he filed over the suspension of his Facebook and Instagram accounts following the January 6 Capitol riot.
The settlement is seen as a significant concession from a major tech company and a win for Trump, who has long criticized social media platforms for censoring him. Recently, he has also sought closer ties with tech figures, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.
In a call with investors for Meta’s quarterly financial results, Zuckerberg praised Trump’s administration for supporting American tech companies and championing “our values.” He also mentioned that Meta would be working to redefine its relationships with governments in the coming year.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other platforms, reported a 21% increase in revenue and a 49% boost in profit for Q4. However, its revenue forecast for the current quarter was lower than expected.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the settlement allocates about $22 million to fund Trump’s presidential library, with the remaining $3 million covering legal fees and expenses for other plaintiffs in the lawsuit. As part of the agreement, Meta is not admitting any wrongdoing.