YouTube Settles Trump Lawsuit for $24.5 Million

YouTube agreed to pay a $24.5 million settlement to President Trump and others who were banned by the video streaming platform in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, according to a legal document filed on Monday.

The vast majority of YouTube’s settlement payment — $22 million — will go to Mr. Trump, according to the filing in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He has directed that the money be contributed to the Trust for the National Mall and to the construction of a ballroom at the White House.

The remaining $2.5 million will be distributed among other plaintiffs in the case, including the writer Naomi Wolf and the American Conservative Union.

Mr. Trump had sued Alphabet, the parent company of YouTube and Google, and other social media companies after the platforms suspended his accounts in 2021.

A lawyer for Mr. Trump and representatives for YouTube did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, in January settled a similar lawsuit brought by Mr. Trump, agreeing to pay $25 million. X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk and formerly known as Twitter, agreed in February to pay about $10 million to resolve a dispute about the 2021 suspension of Mr. Trump’s account.

X reinstated Mr. Trump’s account soon after Mr. Musk acquired the company in 2022, while YouTube restored his channel in 2023.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.