Elon Musk and his company, X, have reached a settlement with former President Donald J. Trump, resolving a lawsuit that has been pending since 2018. The legal battle began after Trump was banned from multiple social media platforms, including Twitter (now known as X) and Facebook, following the events of the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump had claimed that his ban from Twitter violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and argued that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act is unconstitutional.
In 2022, a California district court dismissed Trump's lawsuit, but he continued to seek damages from the companies involved. In a significant development last month, Meta agreed to pay a $25 million settlement to Trump. Now, Musk has agreed to pay approximately $10 million to close out the lawsuit with X, marking a crucial step in resolving the long-standing legal dispute.
Musk's relationship with Trump dates back to Trump's first term in office. Over the years, Musk has expressed admiration for the former president, and his financial support reflects this connection. To date, Musk has reportedly invested an estimated $250 million to assist Trump in his political endeavors, including his quest to return to the White House.
The recent $10 million settlement is a fraction of the overall financial support Musk has provided to Trump. This support underscores Musk's commitment to aiding Trump's political aspirations and highlights the depth of their relationship. Musk's involvement in politics extends beyond financial contributions; he was appointed as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he aims to enhance U.S. spending efficiency and expedite governmental processes.
