Elon Musk’s X has agreed to pay former President Donald Trump $10 million to settle a lawsuit over his ban from the platform, which occurred in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The company, then known as Twitter and owned by Jack Dorsey, faced legal action from Trump after it banned him following the events in Washington, D.C. While Trump’s team considered abandoning the suit due to his growing relationship with Musk, they ultimately pursued a settlement.
The settlement marks a significant event in the evolving dynamics between Trump and Musk. Their relationship has flourished over the past two years, with Musk notably reinstating Trump's account in 2022 and investing over $250 million in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Furthermore, Musk and Trump have collaborated publicly, including a joint press briefing from the Oval Office.
This settlement is part of a broader trend of legal resolutions involving social media companies and high-profile users. In January, Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle a similar lawsuit. These settlements highlight ongoing tensions regarding content moderation and user bans on social media platforms.
The lawsuit against X stemmed from Twitter's decision to ban Trump in response to the January 6 events, where Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. This ban raised questions about free speech and the power of social media platforms to regulate voices on their sites. Despite his personal rapport with Musk, Trump chose to move forward with the settlement to resolve the legal dispute.
The resolution of this lawsuit underscores the complexities of managing high-profile accounts on social media platforms. It also reflects the changing landscape of relationships and alliances within the political and tech spheres.
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