BLOGSIA.EU.ORG - YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million, roughly Rp 408 billion, to settle a lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump over the suspension of his account after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
The agreement, filed on Monday, September 29, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, states that the settlement does not represent an admission of fault or liability by YouTube or related parties.
Trump launched lawsuits against YouTube, Facebook, and X—formerly Twitter—in mid-2021 after the platforms suspended his accounts, citing concerns that his content could incite violence.
The settlement marks another legal victory for Trump, who returned to the White House earlier this year after securing a second term in November’s election. According to CNBC reports on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, major tech companies have begun resolving disputes with Trump since his re-election.
In January, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, agreed to pay $25 million. A month later, Elon Musk’s platform X reached a similar settlement worth about $10 million.
These deals, however, have drawn political scrutiny. In August, a group of Democratic senators, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, sent a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.
The senators voiced concern that the settlements with Trump could be part of a quid pro quo arrangement designed to shield companies from full accountability over alleged violations of antitrust, consumer protection, and labor laws. They also warned that such arrangements could potentially breach federal anti-bribery statutes.
The lawsuit against YouTube centered on Trump’s suspension in the aftermath of the Capitol riots, when major social media companies moved to restrict his online presence. Critics argued that Trump’s posts posed risks of further violence, while his supporters claimed the suspensions represented censorship of political speech.
Trump’s legal team celebrated the settlement as proof that major platforms had acted unjustly. “This is a clear signal that these companies cannot silence the President of the United States without consequences,” a spokesperson said following the announcement.
YouTube declined to comment beyond the court filing, which emphasized that the deal was reached to avoid prolonged litigation.
The case highlights the ongoing clash between Silicon Valley’s largest platforms and one of America’s most polarizing political figures. With Trump back in office, the relationship between big tech and the federal government is once again under the microscope.
The settlement marks another legal victory for Trump, who returned to the White House earlier this year after securing a second term in November’s election. According to CNBC reports on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, major tech companies have begun resolving disputes with Trump since his re-election.
In January, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, agreed to pay $25 million. A month later, Elon Musk’s platform X reached a similar settlement worth about $10 million.
These deals, however, have drawn political scrutiny. In August, a group of Democratic senators, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, sent a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.
The senators voiced concern that the settlements with Trump could be part of a quid pro quo arrangement designed to shield companies from full accountability over alleged violations of antitrust, consumer protection, and labor laws. They also warned that such arrangements could potentially breach federal anti-bribery statutes.
The lawsuit against YouTube centered on Trump’s suspension in the aftermath of the Capitol riots, when major social media companies moved to restrict his online presence. Critics argued that Trump’s posts posed risks of further violence, while his supporters claimed the suspensions represented censorship of political speech.
Trump’s legal team celebrated the settlement as proof that major platforms had acted unjustly. “This is a clear signal that these companies cannot silence the President of the United States without consequences,” a spokesperson said following the announcement.
YouTube declined to comment beyond the court filing, which emphasized that the deal was reached to avoid prolonged litigation.
The case highlights the ongoing clash between Silicon Valley’s largest platforms and one of America’s most polarizing political figures. With Trump back in office, the relationship between big tech and the federal government is once again under the microscope.
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