WASHINGTON, DC, September 29, 2025 – Video platform YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump after his account was suspended in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

The settlement, announced on Monday, comes from YouTube’s parent company Alphabet, which also owns Google. It follows similar deals struck earlier this year by Meta and X (formerly Twitter).

Trump filed lawsuits against several major tech firms, accusing them of political bias and censoring conservative voices. His accounts were suspended after the Capitol riot when companies said his rhetoric risked inciting further violence in Washington, DC.

According to The Guardian, YouTube suspended Trump’s channel indefinitely in January 2021. At the time, the platform cited concerns over safety and misinformation.

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Under the terms of the agreement:

“YouTube values conservative voices on its platform and recognizes their role in civic discourse,” the company wrote in a letter to a Republican-led congressional committee, according to Reuters.Other Tech Giants Already Settled

YouTube is not the only platform to reach a deal with Trump:

All of Trump’s accounts on Facebook, X, and YouTube have since been reinstated.

Observers say the settlements reflect a broader shift in Silicon Valley’s relationship with the Republican Party. Tech CEOs from Alphabet, Meta, and X all sat in the front row at Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, signaling warmer ties between big tech and the White House.

Platforms have also moved to loosen content moderation rules. According to Politico, Republicans long argued these restrictions amounted to a violation of free speech.

Last week, YouTube confirmed plans to restore accounts previously banned for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 and the 2020 U.S. election.

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The settlements come as Trump gears up for the 2026 midterms and prepares to strengthen his digital campaign strategy. Restored access to social media allows him to directly reach tens of millions of followers without relying on traditional outlets.

Analysts suggest the financial settlements also give Trump symbolic victories in his long-running battle with Silicon Valley. As BBC notes, the payouts show that major tech platforms are now conciliatory toward the former president.