In a significant development, social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has agreed to pay approximately $10 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. This settlement concludes Trump's legal battle over the suspension of his account following the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals recently granted a motion to dismiss Trump's appeal, paving the way for this resolution.
The lawsuit, initially filed in San Francisco federal court, accused X and its former CEO Jack Dorsey of infringing on Trump's First Amendment right to free speech by deplatforming him. Twitter had justified its decision by citing the risk of Trump inciting further violence among his supporters. However, Trump's legal team contended that the suspension was unjust and sought to challenge it in court.
Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in October 2022 for a staggering $44 billion, reinstated Trump's account in November 2022. Despite his return to the platform, Trump pursued the lawsuit against X, claiming damages for the alleged violation of his rights. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Musk's X has now opted to settle the matter with a substantial financial payout.
John Kelly, Trump's attorney, confirmed the settlement's terms without providing additional details. This settlement follows a similar legal resolution with Meta, which agreed to pay $25 million to settle Trump's lawsuit over the suspension of his social media accounts.
Beyond this legal tussle, Musk has been actively involved in advising the Trump administration on efforts to reduce federal government spending and staffing levels. Furthermore, Musk reportedly contributed over $250 million to support Trump's re-election campaign.
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