Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, will pay $10 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump. The lawsuit, originally against Twitter and its former CEO Jack Dorsey, challenged Trump’s ban after the January 6 Capitol riot.
According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Trump’s legal team initially considered dropping the case after Musk acquired the platform. Instead, they chose to settle, making X the second major platform to resolve a lawsuit related to Trump’s social media bans.
Background on Trump’s Ban and Legal Action
Twitter banned Trump in 2021 after he spread false claims about election fraud and encouraged supporters to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally. The platform cited the risk of further violence as the reason for the suspension.
After Musk took over, Trump’s account was reinstated in November 2022. Musk, a vocal supporter of free speech, has also contributed $250 million to Trump’s re-election campaign.
Similar Lawsuits and Settlements on Elon Musk’s X
Trump has sued multiple tech companies over bans linked to January 6. In January, Meta settled a similar case for $25 million. Of that amount, $22 million will fund a non-profit tied to Trump’s future presidential library. The rest will cover legal fees.
Trump’s legal team is now in talks with Google regarding his YouTube ban. If they reach a deal, it will be the third major settlement linked to Trump’s removal from social media.
