1:46 pm - February 13, 2025
In a significant development in the ongoing saga of former President Donald Trump’s relationship with social media platforms, Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, has reportedly agreed to pay Trump approximately $10 million. This payment stems from the suspension of Trump’s accounts following the January 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, where his supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The settlement comes on the heels of a $25 million deal reached between Trump’s legal team and Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, last month. These agreements mark a pivotal moment in Trump’s long-standing legal battle against major social media platforms, which he accuses of silencing conservative voices.
Trump’s legal team filed a lawsuit in San Francisco against several tech giants, including Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., as well as the chief executives of these platforms. The lawsuit alleged that the companies had unlawfully suppressed conservative viewpoints, a claim that has been a central theme in Trump’s criticisms of Big Tech. Twitter, under its previous ownership, had suspended Trump’s account citing the risk of further violence related to his efforts to remain in the White House after his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The platform specifically pointed to concerns that Trump’s rhetoric could incite additional unrest, as seen in the Capitol riot, which resulted in five deaths and widespread condemnation.
Since acquiring Twitter in 2022 and rebranding it as X, Elon Musk has emerged as a vocal supporter of Trump, both politically and financially. Musk donated $250 million to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, signaling a significant alignment between the tech billionaire and the former president. Furthermore, Musk has been appointed by Trump to lead the newly created U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a position tasked with drastically reducing federal bureaucracy. This closeness between Musk and Trump has raised eyebrows, particularly as it appears to have influenced the handling of Trump’s suspended accounts on X.
According to reports, Trump’s legal team initially considered dropping the lawsuit against X due to the platform’s change in ownership and the personal ties between Musk and Trump. However, the two parties ultimately reached a settlement, which includes the $10 million payment. This resolution is seen as a strategic move to avoid prolonged legal battles, especially given the friendly relationship between Musk and Trump. Legal experts suggest that Trump’s team may pursue similar settlements with other platforms, such as Alphabet, which owns YouTube and also banned Trump following the Capitol riot. Such agreements could set a precedent for how social media companies handle the accounts of high-profile political figures in the future.
Despite the significance of these developments, neither X nor its former CEO, Jack Dorsey, has publicly commented on the settlements or the reasoning behind them. Similarly, Alphabet and the White House have declined to provide statements, leaving many questions unanswered about the broader implications of these agreements. The lack of transparency has sparked debate among free speech advocates and critics of Big Tech, with some arguing that the settlements could embolden other political figures to demand similar treatment from social media platforms.
In a related matter, Trump has pardoned approximately 1,500 supporters who were charged in connection with the Capitol riot. This move has been criticized by many as an attempt to downplay the severity of the event and undermine the legal consequences faced by those involved. The pardons, combined with the settlements reached with social media platforms, have contributed to a narrative that Trump is using his influence to reshape both the digital landscape and the legal system in ways that benefit him and his allies. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, these developments highlight the continued intersection of politics, technology, and free speech in America.