Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Over 2021 Twitter Suspension

X and President Trump Reach Agreement

X, the Elon Musk-owned company, has agreed to pay "about $10 million" to settle a long-running lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over his suspension from Twitter in 2021.

Background of the Lawsuit

Trump first announced the lawsuit more than three years ago, along with Meta and YouTube, after the companies removed him from their platforms following the January 6, 2021 riots. Trump’s lawyers claimed that the suspensions were a violation of his First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit against Twitter was initially dismissed by a judge in 2022, but Trump’s lawyers appealed the decision.

Recent Settlements

X’s settlement comes shortly after Meta reached an agreement with Trump, in which the company will pay $25 million, most of which will go towards building Trump’s presidential library. Trump’s lawyers are also expected to pursue a settlement with Google.

Notable Circumstances

The settlement is significant due to Elon Musk’s close relationship with Trump. Musk reinstated Trump’s Twitter account soon after taking over X in 2022 and spent at least $250 million on Trump’s campaign in 2024. Trump’s lawyers reportedly considered letting the lawsuit fizzle out before the settlement was reached.

Controversy Surrounding Elon Musk

Since taking office less than a month ago, Musk has been using his position to influence the federal government, implementing a series of moves that have sparked concerns about a constitutional crisis.