President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against X, formerly known as Twitter, will be settled by the Elon Musk-owned platform, according to The Wall Street Journal, with X agreeing to pay $10 million to resolve the suit based around censorship claims levied by Trump in 2021.
Musk was one of Trump's largest backers during the 2024 presidential election. (Photo by Brandon ... [+]
X will dish out $10 million despite the platform no longer being led by former CEO Jack Dorsey, who led the platform when it banned Trump’s account in 2021 for comments he made about the Jan. 6 Capitol attack that the platform said violated its glorification of violence policy.
Trump sued Twitter, Facebook and Google four years ago, alleging the companies censored him in the wake of his defensive comments on the attack on the Capitol.
Trump’s attorneys considered dropping the lawsuit due to Musk’s stance as a Trump ally before and after the presidential election, according to the Journal, which cited unnamed people familiar with the matter.
Musk, who spoke alongside Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, put over $200 million into Trump’s presidential campaign last year.
X did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Twitter cited two tweets from Trump as the reasons for his ban. One tweet said the “American Patriots” who voted for him would “not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!” Trump said in the other post he would not attend former President Joe Biden’s inauguration. The posts were made two days after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, with Twitter assessing they could be interpreted as supporting the rioters and as encouragement to those potentially considering violent acts at the inauguration.
It is unclear where the settlement money will go. When Meta settled a similar lawsuit with Trump last month, the Journal reported much of the money would go toward Trump’s presidential library.
X’s settlement follows a $25 million settlement agreed by Meta to resolve a suit around Trump’s censorship claims. Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts were also suspended following the Capitol attack as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Trump used “his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters.” The former president’s accounts have since been reinstated across all platforms, with Musk and Zuckerberg growing closer to Trump since his election. Musk, who stumped for Trump ahead of the election, has become head of the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has attempted to cut down federal agencies and shrink the federal workforce in the face of several lawsuits. Zuckerberg did not endorse Trump in the leadup to the election, though Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund months after Zuckerberg called Trump a “badass” in the wake of the attempt on his life last summer. Musk and Zuckerberg were among several billionaire tech executives with prominent seating during Trump’s inauguration last month.
Meta Settles Trump’s Lawsuit: Will Pay $25 Million To End Censorship Claims (Forbes)
Elon Musk Spent Over $200 Million To Help Trump Get Elected (Forbes)