Musk’s X Settles Trump Lawsuit for $10 Million

Musk Provides Financial Support to Trump

Elon Musk, the main donor to Donald Trump’s election campaign, continues to direct funds toward the former president. Musk’s social network, X, has agreed to compensate Trump with around $10 million for shutting down his account on the former Twitter following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, The Wall Street Journal reported. After buying the company, Musk reinstated Trump in November 2022, though by then, Trump had already launched his own social network, Truth.

Trump Sues Twitter and Reaches a Settlement

Trump filed a lawsuit against Twitter, but a judge initially dismissed it, according to court documents. The politician then appealed to a higher court, allowing the case to proceed despite his growing alliance with Musk. On November 20, attorneys from both sides informed the court that they were negotiating a settlement. Eventually, they finalized an agreement, and the judge approved Trump’s withdrawal of the appeal last Monday. The court resolution does not disclose the settlement terms.

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Musk’s Political Influence Raises Concerns

According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s lawyers considered dropping the appeal due to Musk’s strong support and his $260 million donation to Trump’s campaign. However, they continued negotiations and secured a settlement. Musk now leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to overhaul the administration through large-scale layoffs. His actions have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as they could significantly benefit his companies.

Social Media Companies Settle Trump’s Lawsuits

Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, recently agreed to pay Trump $25 million to resolve a lawsuit over suspending his accounts on Facebook and Instagram after the Capitol riot. Of that amount, $22 million will go toward a Trump presidential library fund, while the rest will cover legal expenses and compensations. The Wall Street Journal did not specify whether Trump will receive the $10 million from X directly or if it will fund his presidential library. Trump has also sued Google for shutting down his YouTube channel.

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Trump Takes Legal Action Against Media Companies

ABC News and its star anchor, George Stephanopoulos, agreed to pay Trump $15 million, which will also go to the library fund. Trump has also sued CBS News, a Paramount Global subsidiary, for editing his interview with Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign, claiming the network interfered with the election.

Twitter Justifies Trump’s Ban

During Trump’s presidency, he frequently used Twitter as his primary communication tool. On the day of the Capitol riot, he tweeted to pressure Vice President Mike Pence not to certify Joe Biden’s election victory. After the riot, Twitter permanently banned his account.

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“We have permanently suspended the @realDonaldTrump account due to the risk of further incitement to violence,” Twitter stated.

The company explained: “After reviewing Trump’s recent tweets and their context—specifically how people interpreted them both on and off Twitter—we made this decision. In light of this week’s horrific events, we previously warned that further rule violations could lead to suspension. Our public interest framework allows people to hear directly from elected officials and world leaders because we believe the public should hold them accountable. However, we have long stated that these accounts must follow our rules and cannot incite violence. We will continue to enforce our policies transparently.”

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