The recent settlement between Google and former President Donald Trump marks the conclusion of a series of high-profile lawsuits initiated by Trump in July 2021. This legal action accused major tech companies of unlawfully silencing conservative viewpoints. With this agreement, Google becomes the last of the big three tech giants to resolve these lawsuits, which also involved Twitter, now known as X, and Facebook's parent company, Meta.
Under the terms of the YouTube settlement, Google will pay $22 million on Trump's behalf to the Trust for the National Mall. This nonprofit organization is focused on the construction of a significant $200 million ballroom project that Trump is overseeing at the White House. The planned facility will span an impressive 90,000 square feet (approximately 8,361.27 square meters) and is expected to be completed well before Trump's presidential term concludes in January 2029.
In addition to the payment to the Trust for the National Mall, the remaining funds from the settlement will be allocated to other plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit. This includes the American Conservative Union, which is known for sponsoring the Conservative Political Action Conference, and noted U.S. author Naomi Wolf.
It’s important to note that YouTube did not admit any wrongdoing as part of this settlement and has stated that it will not implement any changes to its products or policies as a result. Although Trump did not lose access to his YouTube account in 2021, he faced a suspension that restricted his ability to upload new videos. This suspension was lifted in 2023, allowing him to resume his presence on the platform.
This settlement follows similar agreements made earlier this year by other tech giants. In January, Meta agreed to a settlement worth approximately $25 million, while X settled for about $10 million in February. Notably, Meta's settlement included a designation of $22 million specifically for a fund aimed at supporting Trump's future presidential library in Miami, Florida.
This series of lawsuits and their resolutions highlights the ongoing tension between tech companies and political figures regarding free speech and the management of content on their platforms. The outcomes of these legal battles may set precedents for future interactions between technology firms and political entities.
Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru and Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Tasim Zahid.
