Donald Trump quietly drops lawsuit over 2021 Twitter ban after Capitol riot

[midian182]

What just happened? Not long after Meta agreed to pay Donald Trump $25 million to settle a lawsuit over his suspension from the platform following the storming of the Capitol building in 2021, the president has quietly ended a similar lawsuit against Twitter, now called X.

Trump sued Twitter, as it was still called back then, after he was banned from the platform in 2021 over claims that his First Amendment rights had been violated. Twitter said it had banned Trump "due to the risk of further incitement of violence."

The case was dismissed by a judge in 2022, but Trump's lawyers continued to appeal the decision, though the judges were said to be skeptical of his pleas.

In November 2022, Twitter's then-new owner, Elon Musk, posted a poll asking if Trump's account should be reinstated – something the Tesla boss had promised to do if he acquired the platform. 51.8% of respondents voted yes, leading to Musk's response: "Vox Populi, Vox Dei," Latin for "the voice of the people is the voice of God."

Vox Populi, Vox Dei

– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 19, 2022

Trump argued in his appeal hearing that being allowed back on Twitter wasn't enough. In November, his lawyers asked the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals to put the case on hold because settlement talks were ongoing.

A new court filing spotted by TechCrunch states that all parties are now asking the court to dismiss the case. There are no details about the agreement between X and Trump, though it states that both sides will pay their own costs.

Trump also sued Meta and YouTube for banning him in the wake of the Capitol invasion. Last month, Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle its lawsuit against the president. It's been reported that $22 million of this money will go toward a fund to pay for Trump's presidential library, with the rest paying for legal fees and going to other plaintiffs.

The case against YouTube, which also allowed Trump to return, was stayed in 2022 pending the Twitter appeal and administratively closed at the end of 2023.

Trump and Musk forged a close relationship prior to the president's election. The world's richest man is now the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The agency aims to cut wasteful spending and unnecessary regulations, such as reducing the number of federal employees, abolishing some federal agencies, and improving governmental productivity by modernizing federal technology.

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Donald Trump quietly drops lawsuit over 2021 Twitter ban after Capitol riot

 

[The Talking Tech]

Of course, Trump no longer wants to sue his literal Partner in Crime. Instead he needs Elon Musk to keep dismantling democracy and whatever is left of the country's values.

 

[ibnMuhammad]

I'm not sure it's dismantling democracy when there wasn't much of it to begin with.

Most realise the US is in a plutocracy (type of oligarchy), as described in wikipedia: -

Rule by the wealthy; a system wherein governance is indebted to, dependent upon or heavily influenced by the desires of the rich. Plutocratic influence can alter any form of government. For instance, if a significant number of elected representative positions in a republic are dependent upon financial support from wealthy sources, it is a plutocratic republic.

American plutocracy has always been indebted to support from either the MIC / AIPAC / BigPharma / BigTech and other lobbying firms (I.e. bribers).

Kim Iversen (independent journalist) had a good segment on Elon Musk's influence, and how he's surreptitiously been helping to build one of the largest surveillance states, while giving little breadcrumbs to the us, the little folks with illusion of free speech, and doge dept revealing misuse of tax payer money, etc.

 

[Trapped Nowhere]

Rioting seems uncharacteristic for his supporters. Why is he blamed because people decided to riot at the capitol?

 

[wiyosaya]

Rioting seems uncharacteristic for his supporters. Why is he blamed because people decided to riot at the capitol?

As I see it, its easy enough to understand...

 

[Ohnooze]

Rioting seems uncharacteristic for his supporters. Why is he blamed because people decided to riot at the capitol?

I have no idea if Trump was actually partly responsible for any of the Jan 6th rioting.
That said I do know that left leaning people act as if it was some kind of 9/11 event. But at the same time the George Floyd riots killed 25 people and over 2 billion in financial damages. Let's compare that to Jan 6th.
Ridiculous tribalism....

 

[Xelions]

The actual title reads, Trump quietly builds bank account funds . Lawsuits and DOGE. Whoever thought the US would fall so easily.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I have no idea if Trump was actually partly responsible for any of the Jan 6th rioting.
That said I do know that left leaning people act as if it was some kind of 9/11 event. But at the same time the George Floyd riots killed 25 people and over 2 billion in financial damages. Let's compare that to Jan 6th.
Ridiculous tribalism....

- Crazy thought... neither was good!

The Floyd riots had a material cost, and Jan 6th had a cultural cost, both debts are coming due.

 

[Ohnooze]

- Crazy thought... neither was good!

The Floyd riots had a material cost, and Jan 6th had a cultural cost, both debts are coming due.

I agree but that wasn't the point.

The point is that the left leaning only acknowledges one of those as being a bad event. In fact Jan 6th is constantly brought up in comments here but I have not once seen one person bring up Floyd riots and the loss from that event.

Again it's just stupid tribalism from people who have picked a side and become obsessed with that sides political dogma.

 

[axiomatic13]

I agree but that wasn't the point.

The point is that the left leaning only acknowledges one of those as being a bad event. In fact Jan 6th is constantly brought up in comments here but I have not once seen one person bring up Floyd riots and the loss from that event.

Again it's just stupid tribalism from people who have picked a side and become obsessed with that sides political dogma.

You guys never follow a story to it's conclusion. You wait until the narrative reches the right amount of shock and awe and freeze frame the issue right there forever. For example, the Minneapolis PD fire was not set by BLM. It was set by Ivan Harrison Hunter, a Boogaloo Boi, acting as an agent provacateur. To make sure you don't claim "fake news" I got you an article from Fox News as proof. Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/boogaloo-bois-arrested-rioting-floyd-protests

 

[The Talking Tech]

I'm not sure it's dismantling democracy when there wasn't much of it to begin with.

Most realise the US is in a plutocracy (type of oligarchy), as described in wikipedia: -


American plutocracy has always been indebted to support from either the MIC / AIPAC / BigPharma / BigTech and other lobbying firms (I.e. bribers).

Kim Iversen (independent journalist) had a good segment on Elon Musk's influence, and how he's surreptitiously been helping to build one of the largest surveillance states, while giving little breadcrumbs to the us, the little folks with illusion of free speech, and doge dept revealing misuse of tax payer money, etc.

Sure any country in the world would say the same thing about their own democracy, but before Trump the U.S kept itself as a prime example for other countries to follow because it truly respected the separation of government power, Trump dismantling it the United States and China will be just two of the same.

 

[RudyBob]

The setup by the FBI capital riot you mean. That's the same one Pelosi and the mayor of DC refused Trumps offer of National Guard troops for.

 

[Ohnooze]

You guys never follow a story to it's conclusion. You wait until the narrative reches the right amount of shock and awe and freeze frame the issue right there forever. For example, the Minneapolis PD fire was not set by BLM. It was set by Ivan Harrison Hunter, a Boogaloo Boi, acting as an agent provacateur. To make sure you don't claim "fake news" I got you an article from Fox News as proof. Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/boogaloo-bois-arrested-rioting-floyd-protests

Oh so we have an agitator nut case shooting at the Minneapolis Police Department's Third Precinct that ALREADY had looters in it.

What's your point exactly? That the GF riots are were because of the right?

Ya know I have no doubt that there were agitators in the GF riots as well as Jam 6th. But why tf can't you admit that the left were responsible for what they did? I mean Jan 6th was a bunch of ***** dbag overzealous Trump supporters. And the GF riots were a bunch of ***** dbag lefties and opportunist. That's the truth of it....

Holy **** people...stop defending a side.

 

[wiyosaya]

The point is that the left leaning only acknowledges one of those as being a bad event. In fact Jan 6th is constantly brought up in comments here but I have not once seen one person bring up Floyd riots and the loss from that event.

IMO, your viewpoint is skewed to the right. There were a large number of left-leaning people who did not support or approve of the riots that resulted from the George Floyd affair. I suppose, though, no matter how many of us that lean left tell you that, you'll still believe your skewed viewpoint.

 

[wiyosaya]

The setup by the FBI capital riot you mean. That's the same one Pelosi and the mayor of DC refused Trumps offer of National Guard troops for.

Sure, Rudy. You have an extraordinarily accurate read of the pulse of everyone of them stated correctly in your mind. Reality is calling you. If you have any legitimate proof of your assertion, feel free to post it.

 

[wiyosaya]

Trump patting his puppy on the head.

 

[Ohnooze]

IMO, your viewpoint is skewed to the right. There were a large number of left-leaning people who did not support or approve of the riots that resulted from the George Floyd affair. I suppose, though, no matter how many of us that lean left tell you that, you'll still believe your skewed viewpoint.

Well of course there were a lot of left leaning people that didn't agree with it. I think that goes without saying.

And you don't think that right leaning people feel that exact same way about Jan 6th?
That was a huge disappointment for conservatives. I have never talked to one person who agreed with that whole turd show on Jan 6th.

But at the same time I don't see the right bring up the riots constantly like I see the left dwelling on Jan 6th. I mean the left acts like Jan 6th was as bad as 9/11 but they will never bring up GF riots.

 

[wiyosaya]

Well of course there were a lot of left leaning people that didn't agree with it. I think that goes without saying.

And you don't think that right leaning people feel that exact same way about Jan 6th?
That was a huge disappointment for conservatives. I have never talked to one person who agreed with that whole turd show on Jan 6th.

But at the same time I don't see the right bring up the riots constantly like I see the left dwelling on Jan 6th. I mean the left acts like Jan 6th was as bad as 9/11 but they will never bring up GF riots.

So they are not bringing up what you want them to bring up and that makes them sub-human or something? Talk about wanting to control the narrative.

Perhaps those on the left view January 6th as a substantial threat to democracy. People were prosecuted for George Floyd offenses just like they were for January 6th. Though the George Floyd protests were anarchistic, they could hardly be viewed as a threat to democracy, IMO. Just like January 6th, the justice department rightly sought out and prosecuted some of those involved in the George Floyd protests.

Yet the right has their hero spinning lies and making the J 6th defendants out to be saints dear to his heart suffering political persecution - just like he claims he was persecuted. Perhaps, then, its no surprise that some of those pardoned are still having problems with the law and finding it difficult to keep themselves out of trouble, and the rest of the supporters are cheering him on even as he and his minion are attempting to dismantle any semblance of democracy in the US.

There's plenty of blame to go around on both sides, yet you seem unable to acknowledge this as fact.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Well of course there were a lot of left leaning people that didn't agree with it. I think that goes without saying.

And you don't think that right leaning people feel that exact same way about Jan 6th?
That was a huge disappointment for conservatives. I have never talked to one person who agreed with that whole turd show on Jan 6th.

But at the same time I don't see the right bring up the riots constantly like I see the left dwelling on Jan 6th. I mean the left acts like Jan 6th was as bad as 9/11 but they will never bring up GF riots.

- Eh, my FIL and his brother both think the 1,600 J6 protestors were being politically persecuted after being arrested, and that they were right to break into the capitol since the election was "obviously" stolen, so there is a counter anecdote.

They were all pardoned for their actions.

14,000 people were arrested during the Floyd protests (and rightly so, actions should have consequences). As far as I can tell, the only people pardoned as part of that whole **** show... were the two officers found guilty of murdering George Floyd (by Trump, ofc).

So frankly I don't see the two things as different sides of the same coin. J6 rioters let off the hook. Floyd protesters held to account unless you were the cops who kicked the whole thing off, in which case you got a Presidential pardon.

 

[Ohnooze]

So they are not bringing up what you want them to bring up and that makes them sub-human or something? Talk about wanting to control the narrative.

What are you talking about? Where did I imply anyone was subhuman or anything close to that? Please show me a quote....

There's plenty of blame to go around on both sides, yet you seem unable to acknowledge this as fact.

What kind of stupid are you talking about here?
Again, I give no pass at all to the Jan 6th people in any way and I have said that in multiple topics including this one.

QUOTE:
"That was a huge disappointment for conservatives. I have never talked to one person who agreed with that whole turd show on Jan 6th."

"I mean Jan 6th was a bunch of ***** dbag overzealous Trump supporters."

What in those comments makes you think that I don't believe that the right has any fault?

 

[Ohnooze]

- Eh, my FIL and his brother both think the 1,600 J6 protestors were being politically persecuted after being arrested, and that they were right to break into the capitol since the election was "obviously" stolen, so there is a counter anecdote.

I'm sorry did I say that no one on the planet believed that it was the right thing to do? I don't know your FIL or his brother so I'm not real sure what your point is.

They were all pardoned for their actions.

And they absolutely should not have been. I personally don't know a lot about Jan 6th but regardless no one involved in crashing into the capital should get off.

So frankly I don't see the two things as different sides of the same coin. J6 rioters let off the hook. Floyd protesters held to account unless you were the cops who kicked the whole thing off, in which case you got a Presidential pardon.

And I think you're wrong.
They are the same for the most part. The pardons were wrong but that doesn't change the fact that the GF riots were also wrong.

You act as if Jan 6th was somehow worse because the *****s got off but if 25 people were murdered and there was $2 billion in damages to the capital they absolutely wouldn't have gotten a pardon.

 

[axiomatic13]

The setup by the FBI capital riot you mean. That's the same one Pelosi and the mayor of DC refused Trumps offer of National Guard troops for.

More things that did not happen. Here is Nancy Pelosi calling Gov. Norman and being told that only Trump has the authority to call in the National Guard. Keep them coming, I'll keep knocking the BS down.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I'm sorry did I say that no one on the planet believed that it was the right thing to do? I don't know your FIL or his brother so I'm not real sure what your point is.

- You said you've never talked to a conservative that agreed with J6, I've talked to two and and I don't even talk to that many people. Anecdotes vs anecdotes, just making sure a reader gets both sides of the coin, yeah?

And they absolutely should not have been. I personally don't know a lot about Jan 6th but regardless no one involved in crashing into the capital should get off.

- Agreed.

And I think you're wrong.
They are the same for the most part. The pardons were wrong but that doesn't change the fact that the GF riots were also wrong.

You act as if Jan 6th was somehow worse because the *****s got off but if 25 people were murdered and there was $2 billion in damages to the capital they absolutely wouldn't have gotten a pardon.

- Yes, I stated both are wrong definitively in a prior comment, so not sure what you're playing at.

I am saying that they are not the same, because J6 has now been condoned by the executive branch of the US government thanks to the pardons of all involved, the Floyd rioters remain subject to the consequences of their actions (and the criminally liable police who murdered Floyd have been pardoned, condoning their actions).

The only person here attempting to make qualitative judgements on the "worseness" of these events appears to be you.

 

[Ohnooze]

You said you've never talked to a conservative that agreed with J6, I've talked to two and and I don't even talk to that many people. Anecdotes vs anecdotes, just making sure a reader gets both sides of the coin, yeah?

Sure.

I am saying that they are not the same, because J6 has now been condoned by the executive branch of the US government thanks to the pardons of all involved, the Floyd rioters remain subject to the consequences of their actions (and the criminally liable police who murdered Floyd have been pardoned, condoning their actions).

The only person here attempting to make qualitative judgements on the "worseness" of these events appears to be you.

They are similar and should be similarly offensive to all Americans.

I get the impression that you think Jan 6th is the worst of the two because people were pardoned. Is that not what you're saying? Did I misunderstand you?

Do you believe that the left leaning people would be just as offended at the people from GF riots had gotten pardons? Do you believe that if Jan 6th *****s hadn't gotten the pardon that the left would have stopped talking about it already?

To me it's pretty obvious that "the left" loves to obsess with Jan 6th and that's mostly because they hate Trump so much. I hate it myself but because Americans acted like animals and not so much because of Trump. I view the GF riots exactly the same way. And yes only one got pardoned but the one that did not get pardoned was a lot more damaging and more lives lost. No that does not justify it but again the left seems to ignore one and not the other.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

They are similar and should be similarly offensive to all Americans.

Ok

I get the impression that you think Jan 6th is the worst of the two because people were pardoned. Is that not what you're saying? Did I misunderstand you?

Do you believe that the left leaning people would be just as offended at the people from GF riots had gotten pardons? Do you believe that if Jan 6th *****s hadn't gotten the pardon that the left would have stopped talking about it already?

To me it's pretty obvious that "the left" loves to obsess with Jan 6th and that's mostly because they hate Trump so much. I hate it myself but because Americans acted like animals and not so much because of Trump. I view the GF riots exactly the same way. And yes only one got pardoned but the one that did not get pardoned was a lot more damaging and more lives lost. No that does not justify it but again the left seems to ignore one and not the other.

- So the fact that one "similarly offensive" act was condoned through a pardon and the other wasn't... doesn't bother you?

There have been calls to pardon the J6 rioters since almost immediately after J6 happened, never was any call to pardon the GF rioters. Maybe that's why it's always talked about, because conservatives wouldn't just condemn it and let it go?