YouTube has reached a $22 million settlement with President Donald Trump over the suspension of his channel following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, marking another in a series of legal deals between Trump and major tech companies since his return to office.

The court filing, made public Monday, indicates that the funds will be directed toward Trump's ongoing White House construction initiative through the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall, which aims to "restore, preserve, and elevate the National Mall" while supporting the building of the White House State Ballroom. In addition, YouTube has agreed to distribute $2.5 million to other conservative allies, including the American Conservative Union.

Following the announcement, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to celebrate what he described as a decisive win. "This MASSIVE victory proves Big Tech censorship has consequences," he wrote, declaring that he had "fought for free speech and WON!"

Trump YouTube Lawsuit

YouTube, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, had blocked Trump from uploading content on January 12, 2021, citing "concerns about the ongoing potential for violence" in the aftermath of the Capitol assault. The decision came alongside similar bans imposed by Facebook and Twitter, as platforms moved to restrict Trump's posts amid fears of further unrest.

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In July 2021, Trump filed a complaint against YouTube and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, arguing that he was wrongfully removed under "non-existent or broad, vague and ever-shifting standards." His team maintained that the ban violated his rights and amounted to censorship of political speech.

The lawsuit followed one of the most chaotic episodes in modern US history, when rioters stormed Congress to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. More than 140 police officers were injured in the violence, which Trump critics said was fueled by his false claims of electoral fraud.

Legal scholars, however, have long questioned the validity of Trump's arguments. The First Amendment, they noted, restricts government interference in speech but does not apply to private corporations. YouTube itself stated in a 2021 filing that it "is not a state actor and its exercise of editorial discretion over its private service does not implicate Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights."

Big Tech Concessions

The settlement has drawn criticism from media watchdogs. Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters, described YouTube's move as a dangerous concession. "YouTube's capitulation is shameful and shortsighted. Needlessly folding now will only help encourage Trump's efforts to stifle dissent by bringing media and online platforms to heel," he told AFP.

The case is part of a broader wave of settlements between Trump and media corporations. In recent months, Meta agreed to pay $25 million, most of which will fund Trump's future presidential library. Elon Musk's X resolved a similar case for $10 million, while Paramount Global paid $16 million to settle a complaint over what Trump called an unfairly edited interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Observers say these agreements reflect Big Tech's desire to avoid prolonged litigation at a time of heightened political scrutiny. Alphabet, in particular, faces mounting regulatory challenges, including a high-stakes antitrust trial in Virginia that could lead to the breakup of its ad technology business.

Read more: YouTube to reinstate accounts banned over COVID, 2020 election