YouTube to Pay $24.5 Million in Settlement for Lawsuit Over 2021 Suspension of Trump’s Account
In a move that caps a series of high-profile legal battles between President Donald Trump and major tech platforms, YouTube agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump over the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. The agreement, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on September 29, 2025, marks the final resolution among the major social media giants, YouTube, Meta (Facebook’s parent), and 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), which faced similar suits from the former and current president.
The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing by YouTube or its parent company, Alphabet Inc. It also requires no changes to the platform’s content policies or products. However, the payout drew sharp criticism from free speech advocates and legal experts, who view it as a pragmatic concession to Trump’s political influence rather than a validation of his claims.
The lawsuit originated from censorship claims post-Capitol riot. Trump filed the lawsuit in October 2021, shortly after being barred from major social media platforms following the violent insurrection at the Capitol. YouTube suspended his channel on January 12, 2021, citing violations of its policies against content that incites violence or promotes harmful conspiracies. Unlike full bans on Twitter and Facebook, YouTube’s action prevented Trump from uploading new videos or live-streaming, though existing content remained viewable. The channel was reinstated in March 2023, after Trump’s return to prominence.
In his complaint, Trump accused YouTube, along with Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, of unconstitutional censorship and monopolistic control over public discourse. He argued that the platform’s actions violated his First Amendment rights and sought to challenge Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the legal shield that protects tech companies from liability for user-generated content. Trump claimed the suspensions were politically motivated, part of a broader bias against conservative voices by major tech companies.
The suit was one of three nearly identical complaints Trump lodged against social media giants. He sued Meta and Twitter (now 𝕏) in July 2021, alleging similar grievances. At the time, platforms defended their decisions as necessary to prevent further real-world harm, pointing to Trump’s posts as potential catalysts for the riot.
Under the terms of the YouTube settlement, $22 million will be directed to the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit focused on restoring and enhancing the iconic Washington, D.C., landmark. Specifically, the funds are earmarked for the construction of a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot White House State Ballroom, a project Trump championed as a legacy initiative to modernize presidential facilities. The ballroom is slated for completion before the end of Trump’s second term in January 2029.
The remaining $2.5 million will go to other plaintiffs who joined Trump’s suit, including the American Conservative Union, organizers of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, and author Naomi Wolf, known for her controversial stances on public health and free speech.
Trump celebrated the outcome on his Truth Social platform, posting that this victory proves significant consequences for tech censorship. A representative for YouTube declined to comment beyond referring inquiries to the court filing.
This settlement follows a pattern established earlier this year. In January 2025, Meta agreed to a $25 million payout, most of which supports Trump’s presidential library fund. 𝕏 settled in February for approximately $10 million, with funds allocated to unspecified conservative causes. Collectively, these deals funneled over $59.5 million to Trump-affiliated projects since his January 2025 inauguration.
As this chapter of digital-age drama concludes, one thing remains clear: in the court of public and political opinion, settlements like this carry weight far beyond their dollar value. For YouTube, it closes a contentious saga at a significant cost; for Trump, it represents another step in his ongoing pursuit of vindication.
