Following the January 6, 2021 insurrection, Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) has reached a settlement with former President Donald Trump, resolving a lawsuit over Trump’s suspension from the platform. This agreement marks the second major social media company to settle with Trump regarding his deplatforming after the event.
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In the aftermath of the January 6th riot, several social media platforms, including X and Meta, took action to suspend Trump’s accounts citing concerns over further incitement of violence. Twitter’s official statement on January 8, 2021, explicitly cited the risk of further incitement of violence as the reason for the permanent suspension.
Legal Battles and Reinstatement
Trump initiated legal action against Twitter and then-CEO Jack Dorsey in July 2021, alleging unfair censorship of his speech. This initial lawsuit was dismissed by Judge James Donato of the US District Court for the Northern District of California in May 2022, who ruled that Twitter’s actions did not violate Trump’s First Amendment rights. Trump subsequently appealed the decision to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 and the platform’s rebranding to X, Trump’s account was reinstated. Recent court filings reveal a joint motion from both parties to dismiss the appeal, with each side bearing its own costs. The dismissal was granted on Monday.
Settlement Details and Big Tech’s Relationship with the Trump Administration
While the specific financial terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, reports from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times suggest X agreed to pay approximately $10 million to resolve the lawsuit. This settlement comes amidst a closer relationship between Musk, Trump, and the broader tech industry with the Trump administration.
Meta’s Similar Settlement
X’s settlement follows a similar agreement reached between Trump and Meta last month. Meta reportedly agreed to a $25 million payout, with a significant portion allocated to a fund for Trump’s presidential library. This trend of settlements highlights the complex relationship between Big Tech platforms and political figures, particularly in the context of content moderation and free speech.
This developing relationship includes Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration, his attendance at the event, and the appointment of UFC President Dana White, a Trump ally, to Meta’s board of directors. Furthermore, Meta’s elimination of third-party fact-checkers and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs aligns with Trump’s publicly stated positions.
Trump has also filed a lawsuit against Google and its CEO, Sundar Pichai, over similar allegations of censorship.
In conclusion, the settlement between X and Trump signifies a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding online speech, platform responsibility, and the political influence of tech giants. The evolving relationship between the Trump administration and Big Tech companies continues to reshape the landscape of the digital sphere.
