According to the lawsuit, Trump’s removal from Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube hindered his ability to “act as head of the Republican Party” and promote other GOP candidates.
Zuckerberg’s Meeting With Trump Led to Settlement Talks
Settlement negotiations reportedly began after Zuckerberg met with Trump in Florida in November 2023, in an effort to mend relations with the former president. The lawsuit had been stalled since that year, and discussions ultimately led to Meta agreeing to pay $25 million to resolve the case.
The cases were transferred to the Northern District of California, where the companies argued that their terms of service required disputes to be handled in that jurisdiction.
Legal Representation and Reactions
- Donald Trump: Represented by Andrei Popovici of the Law Office of Andrei D. Popovici PC, John Q. Kelly of Ferguson Cohen LLP, Michael J. Jones and Ryan S. Tougias of Ivey Barnum & O’Mara LLC, Richard Polk Lawson of Gardner Brewer Hudson PA, and John P. Coale.
- Meta and Mark Zuckerberg: Represented by K. Winn Allen, Craig S. Primis, Michael P. Esser, and Gabrielle Durling of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
An attorney for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
