YouTube has reportedly reached a $22 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, following the platform’s decision to suspend his account.
The suspension was implemented after the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, where Trump supporters clashed with police in an attempt to halt the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.
According to court documents filed on Monday in a California federal court, the $22 million will be directed toward Trump’s new White House construction initiative, managed by the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall.
The organization, known for preserving and enhancing the National Mall, will use the funds to support the construction of the White House State Ballroom.
In addition to the main settlement, YouTube will reportedly pay $2.5 million to Trump’s allies, including the American Conservative Union.
Legal Background
Trump’s legal team accused YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., of wrongfully censoring him by suspending his account and restricting his ability to share content.
The lawsuit, filed in July 2021, claimed the suspension was based on “non-existent or broad, vague and ever-shifting standards.”
YouTube initially suspended Trump’s channel on January 12, 2021, citing “concerns about the ongoing potential for violence.” Other platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, also took similar steps at the time.
Free Speech Debate
The settlement has reignited discussions about free speech and the power of private tech companies.
Legal analysts emphasized that First Amendment protections apply only to government actions, not private entities, which made Trump’s claims legally complex.
In its December 2021 defense filing, YouTube argued:
“YouTube is not a state actor and its exercise of editorial discretion over its private service does not implicate Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights.”
Meanwhile, media watchdog Media Matters condemned the agreement.
Its president, Angelo Carusone, remarked:
“YouTube’s capitulation is shameful and shortsighted. Needlessly folding now will only help encourage Trump’s efforts to stifle dissent by bringing media and online platforms to heel.”