Alphabet(US:GOOG) The Guardian·2025-09-30 00:03Core Points - YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump in 2021 regarding the suspension of his channel after the January 6 Capitol attack [1][2] - The lawsuit claimed that YouTube and its parent company, Alphabet, held an "unprecedented concentration of power" over public discourse [2] - The settlement leads to the dismissal of the case, with Trump directing $22 million of the payout towards the restoration of the National Mall and the construction of the White House ballroom [4] Company Actions - YouTube suspended Trump's channel for violating policies against inciting violence, initially for seven days on January 12, 2021, and later extended the ban indefinitely [7] - The platform recently announced it would allow creators previously banned for spreading misinformation to be reinstated, indicating a shift in policy [3] Legal Context - Trump has settled similar lawsuits with other tech companies, including Meta for $25 million and X (formerly Twitter) for $10 million [4] - Trump's lawyer, John Coale, indicated that Trump's return to the White House played a significant role in reaching these settlements [5] Timeline of Events - Trump's channel was reinstated in March 2023 after he announced his candidacy for a second presidential term, with YouTube stating it balanced the risk of violence with the need for voters to hear from major candidates [9] - Following the reinstatement, Trump posted a video expressing his return to the platform [10]