Trump Wins $50 Million in Settlements and Counting as Media Leaders Kiss the Ring
Since winning his second term, Donald Trump has raked in $50 million in settlements from major media companies, forcing some of the biggest names in the industry to pay up rather than fight him in court. The payouts from Disney®, Meta® (Facebook's parent company), and X® (formerly Twitter) mark a dramatic shift in how companies handle legal battles with the president.
With Paramount Global® (owner of CBS News) now in settlement talks, Trump's strategy of taking on media giants seems to be paying off. But the wave of settlements raises a bigger question: Are media companies surrendering to Trump's influence out of legal caution, or are they bending under the pressure of a president who isn't afraid to use his power against them?
Meta, Disney, and X Hand Over Millions
In December 2024, Disney agreed to pay $15 million to resolve a defamation lawsuit Trump filed against ABC News, as reported by Vanity Fair. The lawsuit stemmed from anchor George Stephanopoulos stating on-air that Trump had been found liable for "rape" in the E. Jean Carroll civil trial. While the jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse, not rape, the comment led to Disney cutting a deal.
Then, in January 2025, Meta settled a lawsuit over Trump's 2021 Facebook® and Instagram® bans, agreeing to pay $25 million, as reported by Variety. The company had banned Trump following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, citing concerns about inciting violence. Meta initially suspended Trump indefinitely, later revising the ban to two years before reinstating his accounts in 2023. Though Trump's accounts were restored, he kept the lawsuit alive, accusing Meta of violating his First Amendment rights, a claim widely dismissed by legal experts, as only governments — not private companies — can violate someone's First Amendment rights.
Trump also secured a $10 million settlement from X in early February 2025, as reported by NPR. Trump sued the platform for censorship after X banned him after the January 6 Capitol riots. However, his legal arguments failed in court, with both a district judge and a federal appeals court ruling against him. Despite these losses, Trump's legal team continued pressing the case even after Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, ultimately leading to the $10 million payout.
Paramount/CBS Next in Line
Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, is currently in discussions to settle a lawsuit Trump filed in October 2024 over a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, as reported by Business Insider. Trump alleged that CBS engaged in election interference by deceptively editing parts of the interview, though the network has maintained the edits were standard journalistic practice.
CBS executives initially vowed to fight the case, saying they did nothing wrong. However, after Trump won re-election, the company decided to appoint a mediator to facilitate a settlement. The timing is notable as Paramount is seeking federal approval for a massive merger with Skydance Media®, a deal that could bring in billions for chair Shari Redstone. With Trump's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in charge of approving the deal, some suspect Paramount is settling to stay on his good side.
A Shift in Media Strategy or Submission?
The growing list of settlements marks a major shift in how media organizations handle Trump's legal threats. Historically, news outlets have fiercely defended themselves against defamation claims, citing First Amendment protections. But Trump's unique position as both a litigious billionaire and the sitting president has changed the equation.
Some legal scholars see the settlements as a dangerous precedent. Instead of fighting Trump's claims, companies are cutting checks, fearing potential government retaliation or regulatory roadblocks. "No president has ever been as overt about his goal of using as many levers of punishment as possible," said University of Utah law professor RonNell Andersen Jones, according to Vanity Fair.
Others argue that these settlements aren't about legal merit at all. Instead, they may be a strategic move by media executives who recognize Trump's power and want to stay in his favor.
What Comes Next?
CBS, facing an open FCC investigation into its licensing, could follow Disney and Meta's lead. Meanwhile, other lawsuits remain unresolved, such as Trump's complaint against The Des Moines Register over a pre-election poll. If recent history is any indication, more settlements could be on the way. The question remains: Will they fight, or will they pay?
References: Meta to Pay Trump $25 Million to Settle 2021 Lawsuit Over His Facebook and Instagram Ban | Media Giants Settling With Donald Trump Are Setting a "Dangerous" Precedent | Donald Trump's media and tech lawsuits seemed like a stretch. Then he won the election. | Trump says Elon Musk's $10 million settlement over Twitter suit was 'a big discount' | Paramount, Trump agree to appoint mediator to settle $20B lawsuit over '60 Minutes' Kamala Harris interview
