If you’re a regular Facebook user, you might recall that former US President Donald Trump’s social media accounts were suspended after the January 6 riots.
Now, in a surprising turn of events, Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has agreed to pay Trump a whopping $25 million to settle a lawsuit.
What Led to the Suspension?
For those who may not remember, Trump’s social media accounts were suspended after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, leading to deadly riots.
At the time, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that allowing Trump to continue posting on their platforms posed too great a risk, citing the spread of disinformation and false claims about the 2020 presidential election.
The Lawsuit and Settlement
Trump filed a lawsuit against Meta in 2021, claiming that the suspension of his accounts was a form of censorship that had a chilling effect on important discussions.
The lawsuit has now been settled, with Meta agreeing to pay Trump $25 million.
Interestingly, $22 million of this amount will go towards funding Trump’s presidential library, while the remainder will cover legal fees. Notably, Meta has not admitted to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
A Change of Heart for Zuckerberg?
This settlement comes just months after Mark Zuckerberg had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
According to sources, this meeting was part of an effort by Zuckerberg to mend his relationship with Trump. In fact, Meta even donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, and Zuckerberg attended the inauguration ceremony with his wife Priscilla Chan.
It seems that Zuckerberg is trying to make amends with the former President, but what do you think about this surprising turn of events? Share your thoughts in the comments!