**YouTube Pays Donald Trump $24.5 Million to Settle Lawsuit Over Channel Suspension**

*By Mudit Dube | September 30, 2025, 11:25 AM*

YouTube has agreed to pay former US President Donald Trump $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit he filed in 2021. The lawsuit accused the platform of wrongfully suspending his channel following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

This settlement is the latest in a series of multimillion-dollar resolutions between Trump and major tech companies regarding past decisions about his social media accounts.

**Details of the Lawsuit**

Trump’s lawsuit targeted YouTube and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, alleging “impermissible censorship.” The suit argued that YouTube holds an “unprecedented concentration of power, market share, and ability to dictate our nation’s public discourse.” Trump claimed that suspending his channel violated his First Amendment rights and initially sought damages in the trillions over what he described as censorship.

**YouTube’s Suspension of Trump’s Channel**

YouTube defended its decision to suspend Trump’s channel, stating that it violated the platform’s policies against inciting violence. The channel was first suspended for seven days on January 12, 2021, after Trump shared a video defending his speech to supporters before the Capitol riot as “totally appropriate.”

Due to ongoing concerns about potential violence, the suspension was later extended indefinitely.

**Policy Shifts and Trump’s Reinstatement**

In a notable policy shift, YouTube recently announced it would reinstate creators previously banned for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and the 2020 US presidential election. The platform emphasized its commitment to amplifying conservative voices.

Following careful assessment of real-world violence risks, YouTube reinstated Trump’s channel in March 2023, highlighting the importance of voters hearing from all major national candidates ahead of elections.

**Trump’s Other Settlements with Media and Tech Giants**

YouTube is not the only major company to settle with Trump recently. Paramount, owner of ABC and CBS, reached a settlement during its pursuit of Federal Communications Commission approval for an $8 billion merger with Skydance. The deal received approval shortly after the settlement.

In January, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, settled a lawsuit with Trump for $25 million. Additionally, Elon Musk-owned social media platform X (formerly Twitter) agreed to a $10 million settlement in February.

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This series of settlements highlights ongoing tensions and negotiations between influential tech platforms and former President Trump regarding content moderation and free speech on digital platforms.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/youtube-pays-24-5m-to-settle-trump-lawsuit-over-account-suspension/story