On January 12, 2021, YouTube suspended former President Donald Trump’s channel, citing risks of further violence in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riots.
This action followed similar bans by Facebook, Twitter (now X), and other major platforms. At the time, YouTube blocked Trump from uploading new content indefinitely.
Details of the Settlement
On September 29, 2025, a settlement was filed in federal court in Oakland, California, ending Trump’s lawsuit against YouTube and its parent company Alphabet. The settlement totals $24.5 million, distributed as follows:
- $22 million will be directed to the Trust for the National Mall, supporting a $200 million ballroom project Trump is building at the White House.
- $2.5 million will go to other plaintiffs, including the American Conservative Union.
YouTube restored Trump’s ability to post videos in March 2023, before the lawsuit was resolved.
Trump’s Broader Legal Battles With Tech Companies
Trump launched lawsuits against Twitter, Facebook, and Google in July 2021, alleging censorship of conservative viewpoints. These suits have led to other multimillion-dollar settlements:
- Meta (Facebook/Instagram): Settled earlier in 2025 for $25 million.
- X (formerly Twitter): Settled for approximately $10 million.
Settlements With Media Companies
Trump has also pursued and won settlements against major media organizations:
- Paramount Global (CBS): Settled in July 2025 for $16 million over alleged deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The funds are earmarked for Trump’s presidential library.
- The Walt Disney Company (ABC): Settled in December 2024 for $15 million after George Stephanopoulos inaccurately stated Trump had been found liable for rape during an interview.
The E. Jean Carroll Cases
Separate from these settlements, Trump has faced civil trials involving writer E. Jean Carroll:
- 2023: Found liable for sexual assault and defamation, ordered to pay $5 million.
- January 2024: Found liable for additional defamation, ordered to pay $83.3 million.
While no court has found Trump liable for rape under New York law, these verdicts leave him responsible for nearly $90 million in damages. His appeal on the defamation judgment was denied in September 2025.
