YouTube has agreed to pay $22 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former US President Donald Trump following the suspension of his account.
The suspension followed the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, during which Trump supporters violently clashed with law enforcement to block the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The settlement, disclosed in a California federal court filing on Monday, directs the $22 million toward Trump’s new construction project at the White House, managed through a nonprofit called the Trust for the National Mall.
The nonprofit is dedicated to restoring, preserving, and enhancing the National Mall, with the funds specifically supporting the construction of the White House State Ballroom.
In addition to Trump, YouTube has agreed to pay $2.5 million to several of his allies, including the American Conservative Union.
Background of the Legal Dispute
Trump argued that YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., wrongfully censored him by suspending his account and limiting his ability to post content.
His legal team claimed the suspension followed “non-existent or broad, vague and ever-shifting standards,” according to the original July 2021 complaint against YouTube and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.
YouTube blocked Trump from uploading content beginning January 12, 2021, citing “concerns about the ongoing potential for violence.” Facebook and Twitter took similar actions to prevent further unrest.
Reactions and Free Speech Debate
The settlement has sparked a debate over free speech rights in the US.
Legal experts noted that the First Amendment restricts government action, not private companies, meaning Trump’s claims faced significant legal challenges.
In defense, YouTube stated in a December 2021 brief:
“YouTube is not a state actor and its exercise of editorial discretion over its private service does not implicate Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights.”
Media watchdog Media Matters criticized the settlement.
Its president, Angelo Carusone, said:
“YouTube’s capitulation is shameful and shortsighted. Needlessly folding now will only help encourage Trump’s efforts to stifle dissent by bringing media and online platforms to heel.”
