JUST IN: YOUTUBE TO PAY $24.5 MILLION IN SETTLEMENT OVER TRUMP ACCOUNT SUSPENSION
San Francisco, September 21, 2025 — YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit related to its suspension of President Donald Trump’s account in 2021, according to court filings.
The settlement resolves years of legal disputes stemming from the platform’s decision to block Trump’s channel following the January 6 Capitol riots. At the time, YouTube cited concerns over incitement to violence and risks to public safety.
Trump’s legal team argued the suspension constituted unlawful censorship and unfairly targeted a sitting president. While the settlement does not include a formal admission of wrongdoing by YouTube, the payout represents one of the largest legal resolutions between a tech platform and a U.S. political figure.
The agreement could have broader implications for the ongoing debate over the power of social media platforms to regulate political speech and the extent of legal protections they enjoy.