Trump Ends Legal Battle with X, Pardons Jan. 6 Defendants

President Trump has voluntarily dismissed his legal dispute with X and pardoned nearly 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot, marking a significant shift in his administration’s approach to the aftermath of January 6, 2021.

In a move that has caught the attention of political analysts and the public alike, President Trump has ended his legal battle with X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, over his permanent suspension following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The decision to dismiss the lawsuit, filed in the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, was mutual, with both parties agreeing to bear their own costs and fees.

This development comes shortly after Trump’s recent inauguration, during which he also made headlines by issuing pardons to approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 events, including those convicted of assaulting police officers. This mass pardon has reignited debates about accountability and justice in relation to the Capitol riot.

X, which is primarily owned by Elon Musk, had initially banned Trump due to concerns over the potential incitement of violence. However, since Musk’s acquisition of the platform in November 2022, Trump’s account has been reinstated, signaling a change in the company’s stance on political speech.

The dismissal of the lawsuit and the pardons are seen as part of Trump’s broader strategy to move past the controversies of his previous term and focus on his current agenda. Neither X nor the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, have responded to requests for comment on these developments.

As Trump shifts his social media presence to his platform, Truth Social, and with the reversal of restrictions on his Instagram and Facebook accounts by Meta, the dynamics of political communication in the digital age continue to evolve. This latest move by Trump underscores his ongoing influence in the political and social media spheres.