YouTube settles Trump lawsuit, agrees to pay $24.5M

Published: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 12:46 am

YouTube Settles Lawsuit with Trump, Agrees to $24.5 Million Payment

YouTube has reached a settlement with President Donald Trump, agreeing to pay $24.5 million to resolve a lawsuit stemming from the platform's 2021 suspension of his channel. The suspension followed the January 6th events.

According to court documents, $22 million of the settlement will be directed to the Trust for the National Mall. This non-profit organization is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the National Mall, and the funds will support the construction of a new White House State Ballroom. The White House estimates the ballroom's total cost at $200 million. The remaining $2.5 million from the settlement will be distributed to other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union.

This settlement marks the third instance of Trump reaching an agreement with major tech platforms regarding the suspension of his accounts in 2021. He previously settled with Meta for $25 million and with Twitter, now known as X, for $10 million. All three platforms cited concerns that Trump's posts following the U.S. Capitol riots risked inciting further violence as the reason for the suspensions. Trump, in turn, characterized the suspensions as censorship. His accounts were later reinstated.

Trump has also secured settlements from various media outlets. ABC and Disney settled with the President for $15 million, earmarked for his future presidential library, following accusations of defamation against the network and anchor George Stephanopoulous. Paramount Global paid $16 million related to CBS's editing of a Kamala Harris interview on "60 Minutes."

Last week, YouTube announced it would reinstate several previously banned accounts that had violated the platform's now-defunct rules regarding misinformation about COVID-19 and the 2020 election. YouTube stated that it "values conservative voices" and recognizes their role in civic discourse.

BNN's Perspective:

The settlements reached between Donald Trump and these major tech platforms and media outlets highlight the ongoing tensions between free speech, content moderation, and political discourse. While the financial implications are significant, the broader impact on the public's perception of these platforms and their role in shaping the information landscape remains a critical consideration.

Keywords: YouTube, Donald Trump, settlement, lawsuit, White House, ballroom, National Mall, Meta, Twitter, censorship, free speech, media, ABC News, CBS, misinformation, conservative voices

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