YouTube Pays $24.5M, Gets a Trump Ballroom Boom Instead of Justice
In the high-stakes game of corporate hot potato, YouTube forked out $24.5 million to President Donald Trump to settle a lawsuit over his 2021 suspensionâbecause nothing says "fair platform" like a $22 million donation to build a new White House ballroom where Trump plans a fundraiser today. Meanwhile, Senators Warren, Wyden, Sanders, Blumenthal, and Merkley are squinting at Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, suspicious that the settlement might be less about lawsuits and more about greasing DOJ gears in ongoing antitrust suits. Top it off with Meta and Paramount also shelling out millions to hush Trump lawsuits, and you've got bribery vibes stronger than your last awkward Zoom call.
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When your lawsuit settlement mostly funds a Trump White House ballroom, you might be paying for a backstage pass to antitrust leniency. Welcome to Googleâs finest episode of 'How to Avoid a Breakup, Featuring $22 Million in Ballroom Bling.'
Forget courtroomsâGoogle just booked a ballroom remodeling with Trumpâs latest settlement. Federal antitrust fights? Nah, just RSVP to the fundraiser and hope for mercy.
If $24.5 million settlements were dance partners, YouTube just waltzed right into Trumpâs new White House ballroom while antitrust suits watched from the sidelines.
Source: Theverge | Published: 10/15/2025 | Author: Adi Robertson
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