Elon Musk’s social media company X has settled a lawsuit with former U.S. President Donald Trump by agreeing to pay $10 million, sources reported Wednesday. This legal agreement arrives amid a series of lawsuits filed by Trump concerning the suspension of his social media accounts following the Capitol riots in January 2021.
The lawsuit not only involved X, previously known as Twitter, but also targeted its former CEO, Parag Agarwal, linking them to broader accusations of biased censorship against conservative voices on major social media platforms. Trump’s decision to settle with X comes after a preliminary move to discontinue the case due to his previously amicable relations with Musk, an influential supporter during Trump’s presidential campaigns.
Trump has aggressively pursued legal actions against several tech giants. In January, another social media heavyweight, Meta Platforms, resolved its own litigation with Trump regarding his Facebook account, agreeing to a substantial $25 million settlement.
The legal conflict began in July 2021 when Trump, responding to bans or suspensions on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, claimed these actions were unfairly targeting conservative discourse. These suspensions were instituted following the assault on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters, an event that prompted intense scrutiny of the role played by social media in spreading misinformation and inciting violence.
Following his presidency, Trump’s litigations have reflected his ongoing tension with major tech platforms about handling the balance between free speech and regulation of harmful content. Musk’s company X, under the spotlight with these recent legal developments, is the second tech company to conclude a settlement with Trump.
Additionally, Musk has continued to maintain a significant role in political and business spheres. Amid his leadership at Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has also embarked on a new venture within the White House, leading the Department of Government Efficiency which is tasked with streamlining federal bureaucracy.
Moreover, Trump’s legal team is reportedly aiming to reach another settlement concerning his YouTube account, previously banned by Alphabet in the wake of the Capitol riots. Legal discussions and potential settlements are still in the negotiation phase, involving Trump’s representatives and various tech entities.
This legal saga underscores the continuing debate and confrontation between high-profile political figures and the corporate policies of major tech companies, illustrating the intricate and often contentious intersections of law, technology, and free speech rights.
In the context of these settlements and ongoing legal challenges, neither X and its representatives nor Alphabet have made immediate comments on the case’s developments or outcomes.
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