YouTube settles Trump lawsuit for $24.5 million over 2021 suspension
YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump regarding his suspension from the platform in January 2021. The case centered on claims of censorship following the Capitol riot. The settlement avoids a trial but includes no admission of liability from YouTube.
In September 2025, Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube announced a $24.5 million settlement to resolve a legal dispute initiated by Donald Trump. The former president filed the lawsuit in early 2022, alleging that his indefinite suspension from YouTube violated his First Amendment rights and constituted unlawful censorship. The suspension occurred on January 12, 2021, shortly after the January 6 Capitol attack, when YouTube cited violations of its policies against content that incites violence or spreads election misinformation.
Trump's complaint detailed how the platform's actions severed his ability to reach millions of followers, claiming damages for lost revenue from video monetization and political influence. 'This was a blatant attempt to silence political opposition,' Trump stated in the suit, echoing broader grievances against tech giants like Twitter and Facebook, which also banned him around the same time.
YouTube defended the suspension as a necessary measure to prevent further harm, aligning with actions taken by other platforms under pressure from lawmakers and the public. A spokesperson for YouTube remarked, 'We stand by our community guidelines and the decisions made to protect users.' The company emphasized that the settlement was purely financial and did not concede any wrongdoing.
The resolution comes amid ongoing debates over social media moderation and free speech. Trump's legal team hailed it as a 'significant victory,' noting it as part of multiple suits against tech firms that have yielded settlements totaling over $100 million. However, legal experts observe that such outcomes often prioritize avoiding prolonged litigation costs over establishing precedent.
This case highlights the tensions between tech platforms and political figures, with implications for future content policies as elections approach. No further details on the payout distribution were disclosed, but the agreement closes this chapter in Trump's post-presidency battles with Silicon Valley.