Alphabet-owned YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump over the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. The settlement was filed in a federal court in Oakland, California, on September 29.
Reacting to the development, President Trump declared it a landmark win for free speech and a blow to Big Tech censorship.
On Truth Social, he posted: “YouTube SURRENDERS! Pays President Trump $24.5 MILLION for illegal ban! This MASSIVE Victory proves BigTech censorship has consequences. Every shadowbanned patriot deserves justice! Trump fought for free speech and Won! Repost if ALL banned conservatives should be paid!”
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Background of the ban
YouTube suspended Trump’s account on January 12, 2021, six days after the Capitol riots, citing the risk of inciting further violence. The video-sharing platform noted that its policies prohibit content that promotes violence.
The suspension, initially indefinite, barred him from uploading new content. After periodic reviews, the account was reinstated in March 2023, when YouTube determined that the risk of real-world harm had diminished.
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The lawsuit against big tech
President Trump sued YouTube in October 2021, alleging wrongful censorship. His legal challenges were part of a broader effort targeting major platforms that had suspended his accounts following the 2020 election and Capitol unrest.
In similar cases, other tech giants reached financial settlements with him:
- Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) paid $25 million in January 2025.
- X (formerly Twitter) paid USD 10 million in February 2025.
With YouTube’s settlement, President Trump has now resolved lawsuits with all three major tech platforms.
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