Elon Musk’s X to Pay $10 Million to Settle Trump’s Lawsuit
Elon Musk’s social media company, X (formerly Twitter), has agreed to pay $10 million to settle a lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump. This development comes after years of legal battles following Trump’s suspension from major social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (now X), in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
According to The Wall Street Journal, this settlement mirrors a previous $25 million agreement between Meta (formerly Facebook) and Trump, effectively concluding legal disputes between Trump and some of the largest tech companies in the world.
Background: Why Did Trump Sue X and Other Tech Giants?
Following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, several major social media platforms banned Trump, citing violations of their policies against inciting violence.
Trump retaliated in July 2021 by filing a class-action lawsuit against:
- X (formerly Twitter)
- Facebook (now Meta)
- Google (parent company of YouTube)
- Their respective CEOs: Elon Musk (who later acquired Twitter), Mark Zuckerberg, and Sundar Pichai
In his lawsuit, Trump accused these companies of suppressing conservative viewpoints and violating his First Amendment rights by deplatforming him. He argued that social media platforms had acted as government agents under pressure from politicians and government officials.
X’s Decision to Settle: What It Means
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, X has positioned itself as a free speech platform, frequently challenging censorship norms. However, despite Musk’s previous criticism of banning Trump, the company has now opted for a legal settlement instead of prolonged litigation.
The $10 million settlement allows X to:
- Avoid extended legal costs and further courtroom battles.
- Resolve past disputes while focusing on platform growth.
- Prevent setting a precedent that could encourage similar lawsuits from other banned users.
Although Musk reinstated Trump’s X account in 2022, the Donald Trump has rarely used it, preferring his own platform, Truth Social.
Comparing X’s Settlement to Meta’s Agreement with Trump
X’s $10 million settlement follows Meta’s earlier agreement to pay Trump $25 million to resolve similar claims. However, Google (YouTube) has not yet reached a settlement, making it the last of the three major platforms to face Trump’s legal action.
Key Differences Between X’s and Meta’s Settlements
| Platform | Settlement Amount | Trump’s Account Status |
|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | $10 million | Reinstated in 2022 but inactive |
| Meta (Facebook) | $25 million | Reinstated in 2023 |
| Google (YouTube) | Not yet settled | Reinstated in 2023 |
The difference in settlement amounts suggests that X and Meta may have faced different levels of legal risk or potential damages from Trump’s lawsuit.
Trump’s Response: What Comes Next?
Trump has not issued an official statement on X’s settlement, but his legal team previously celebrated Meta’s $25 million agreement as a major victory. It remains unclear whether Trump will take further legal action against Google or any other tech companies.
With the 2024 presidential election approaching, Trump’s battles with social media platforms continue to be a key political issue, particularly among his supporters who argue that big tech companies have unfairly targeted conservatives.
