YouTube has agreed to pay Donald Trump $22 million to settle his lawsuit over the suspension of his account after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
A California court filing on Monday shows the money will fund Trump’s White House construction project, a new State Ballroom managed by the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall.
YouTube will also pay $2.5 million to Trump allies, including the American Conservative Union.
Trump filed the lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company Alphabet in July 2021, claiming the platform wrongfully censored him.
His lawyers argued the suspension relied on “vague and shifting standards” that unfairly restricted his content.
YouTube suspended Trump’s account on January 12, 2021, over concerns about potential violence following the Capitol attack. Facebook and Twitter took similar steps at the time.
The settlement has sparked fresh debate about free speech and Big Tech’s power.
Legal experts note that the First Amendment restricts government censorship, not private companies, making Trump’s case legally shaky.
In a December 2021 court 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.”
Media watchdogs have criticized YouTube’s decision. Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, didn’t hold back:
“YouTube’s capitulation is shameful and shortsighted. Folding now will only embolden Trump’s efforts to pressure media and online platforms into submission.”
