YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet’s (GOOGL) Google, has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit filed by President Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported. The lawsuit stemmed from YouTube’s decision to suspend Trump’s channel after the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
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Following his account suspension, Trump filed a class-action lawsuit against YouTube in July 2021, as well as Facebook and Twitter, which have since become Meta (META) and X, respectively. He alleged that the companies had violated his free-speech rights. The settlement resolves claims by Trump that his ban led to illegal censorship.
Importantly, the settlement comes at a sensitive time for Google. It is facing intense legal pressure from the Justice Department to break up its ad business after a federal judge ruled it had created a monopoly.
Settlement Terms
Under the agreement, the majority of the payment, $22 million, will go to the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall and will be used to fund the construction of a Mar-a-Lago-style ballroom Trump is building at the White House. The project is estimated to cost $200 million.
The remaining $2.5 million will be paid to the other plaintiffs in the case, including the American Conservative Union and writer Naomi Wolf.
The agreement with Google follows similar settlements with other tech giants. Meta settled with Trump for $25 million in early 2025, while X agreed to pay $10 million in February 2025.
Overall, these settlements are part of several legal wins for Trump since last fall’s election, bringing him over $80 million from lawsuits against tech and media firms. This includes a separate $16 million settlement from Paramount (PSKY) over a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris.
What Is the Target Price for Google Stock?
On TipRanks, GOOGL stock has received a Strong Buy consensus rating, with 30 Buys and eight Holds assigned in the last three months. The average Alphabet stock price target is $244.14, suggesting an upside potential of 0.04% from the current level.
