Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, has agreed to pay $10 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump, which accused the platform of unlawfully censoring him following the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

The settlement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks a significant moment in Trump’s long-running legal battle against major technology companies, including Facebook (now Meta) and Google (now Alphabet), over what he has repeatedly described as politically motivated suppression of conservative voices.

The case originated in 2021 when Twitter, under then-CEO Jack Dorsey, permanently banned Trump’s account following the Capitol riot. The company cited its “glorification of violence” policy, arguing that Trump’s tweets could incite further unrest. Two specific tweets were referenced as the basis for the ban.

In one, Trump referred to his supporters as “American Patriots” and stated they “will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape, or form!!!” In another, he announced that he would not attend Joe Biden’s inauguration. Twitter determined that these statements could be interpreted as supporting those who stormed the Capitol or as encouragement for individuals considering violence at the inauguration.

Trump subsequently sued Twitter, Facebook, and Google, arguing that their actions violated his right to free speech and amounted to politically motivated censorship. Although the lawsuit initially sought to challenge the power of social media companies over political discourse, recent developments surrounding Musk’s takeover of Twitter altered the course of the legal battle. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump’s legal team considered dropping the case altogether, given Musk’s outspoken support for free speech and his decision to reinstate Trump’s Twitter account after acquiring the platform in 2022. However, negotiations ultimately led to a $10 million settlement.

The lawsuit settlement follows a similar case involving Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, which also suspended Trump’s accounts following the Capitol attack. Last month, Meta agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit regarding Trump’s censorship claims. The terms of that settlement reportedly included using a significant portion of the funds for Trump’s presidential library, but it remains unclear where the $10 million from X’s settlement will go.

Musk’s decision to settle Trump’s lawsuit underscores the growing alliance between the billionaire and the president. In recent years, Musk has aligned himself politically and financially with Trump, reportedly contributing more than $200 million to Trump’s re-election campaign last year.

This political alignment became even more apparent after Musk accepted a prominent role in Trump’s administration as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As part of his role, Musk has spearheaded efforts to reduce federal bureaucracy, cut government spending, and restructure several agencies, moves that have already sparked significant legal challenges and political opposition.

Trump’s growing influence over major tech companies has not been limited to his relationship with Musk. While Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously clashed with Trump and supported the restrictions placed on his accounts in 2021, his stance has shifted in recent months.

Following the attempted assassination of Trump last summer, Zuckerberg reportedly referred to Trump as a “badass” and later authorized Meta to donate $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. The warming relationship between the two men became even more evident during Trump’s second inauguration last month, where both Musk and Zuckerberg were given prominent seating among other tech executives and political allies.

The settlement between X and Trump represents more than just a financial agreement; it signals a broader shift in the relationship between Silicon Valley and the political landscape. For years, major tech companies were perceived as adversaries to Trump and his movement, frequently accused of suppressing conservative voices. However, with Musk at the helm of X and Zuckerberg gradually moving closer to Trump’s orbit, the dynamics appear to be changing.

Tech billionaires who once distanced themselves from Trump’s rhetoric are now becoming some of his most influential allies.

With Trump now firmly backed by figures like Musk and, to a lesser extent, Zuckerberg, the once-hostile environment between Big Tech and Trump’s political movement is undergoing a dramatic transformation—one that could reshape the internet’s role in politics for years to come.

Wars are bad because during wars many bad things happen. We are reading that Ukraine’s leader dodged a huge poison pill that could have wiped Ukraine’s economic future for generations: “During the Munich Security Conference, a U.S. Congressional delegation presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a document requesting access to 50% of Ukraine’s future mineral reserves. This proposal was made in the context of U.S. military support for Ukraine. President Zelensky declined to sign the agreement, citing no opportunity to review the document and the absence of explicit security guarantees.”

He will likely review it and sign a version later (does he have an option?). During the Biafra War, Nigeria signed a couple of such and continue to pay for the consequences till today. Sudan is signing versions in its war as we write. There are only 3 countries in this world that can wage wars for 24 months without external support, and they are the US, Russia, and China. Those countries have large industrial capacities, raw materials and inputs that can sustain the production of weapons for years. The UK, Germany, Japan and France will operate but will run out of capacity within 18 months.

So, when you read that our African countries are fighting, pay attention as someone has requested for rights to oil wells, minerals, etc.  That is why even when new leaders come, nothing changes because when you see the “agreement”, you become normalized.

It is an illusion to think the world is fair and balanced. In 2015, Britain finished paying off the debt it incurred to cover the payments to slave owners who lost their slaves due to the abolishment law of 1883. Under that law, Britain took a loan from banks and paid those slave owners immediately, and for more than a century has been paying banks for the loans. Understand that no one compensated the victims (yes the slaves).

Indeed, it is what it is: I wish Ukraine good luck as it goes through this paralysis.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has come under intense scrutiny following allegations by Republican Congressman Scott Perry that the agency has been funneling taxpayer dollars to terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda.

Perry made the claims during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday, alleging that USAID has become a conduit for terrorist financing under the guise of humanitarian aid.

During the hearing, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” Perry stated that USAID distributes $697 million annually, with large sums allegedly ending up in the hands of Islamist militants and terrorist training camps.

“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money—$697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash—funds Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” Perry declared.

His accusations have added to long-standing concerns about USAID’s operations, with critics arguing that America’s foreign aid policies have been exploited by corrupt individuals and rogue actors in recipient countries.

Perry also pointed to massive fraud in USAID-funded projects, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where billions of dollars have reportedly been mismanaged or vanished without accountability.

In Pakistan, Perry noted that $136 million was allocated for the construction of 120 schools, yet there is no evidence that any of them were built.

“But you know what? We doubled down and spent $20 million from USAID to create educational television programs for children unable to attend physical school. Yeah, they can’t attend it, because it doesn’t exist. You paid for it. Somebody else got the money,” Perry said.

In Afghanistan, he highlighted the absurdity of spending $60 million annually on a Women’s Scholarship Endowment, despite the Taliban’s ban on female education and public speaking.

The lack of proper oversight by the US government over USAID’s funding has further fueled speculation that these allegations may hold more truth than fiction. Over the years, despite clear instances of fraud and misappropriation, USAID has continued to pump billions into questionable programs with little accountability.

Nigerian investigative journalist David Hundeyin, in reaction to Trump’s suspension of USAID, raised a pertinent question: “Why does a philanthropic donor watch the people he is donating money to live more lavishly than him, and yet decide to keep giving them more money? He must either be the world’s greatest dumbass, or he has another reason for giving them that money.”

Hundeyin’s comment underscores the growing suspicion among Nigerians that USAID’s funding of terrorism may not be an accident but rather a deliberate policy with ulterior motives.

The Nigerian military has repeatedly accused Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of sponsoring or aiding terrorists in the Northeast, an allegation many did not take seriously until now.

Trump and Musk Move to Shut Down USAID

President Donald Trump, who has long accused USAID of corruption and inefficiency, has suspended its operations, pending an investigation into its alleged funding of terrorism and rogue operations.

Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—headed by billionaire Elon Musk—is actively working to dismantle government bureaucracy and cut off wasteful expenditures, with USAID being a primary target.

Musk has been particularly vocal, calling USAID “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and accusing it of financing bioweapon research, including COVID-19, which he claims killed millions of people.

Trump, in a statement, declared: “We are dismantling USAID and every other agency that has misused taxpayer dollars. No more funding of terrorism, no more corruption. This will send shockwaves through the system.”

Nigerians Expect Terrorist Activities to Decline Following USAID Suspension

With USAID now under investigation and its operations suspended, many Nigerians have expressed hope that terrorist activities, particularly Boko Haram’s attacks, will significantly decline.

For years, Boko Haram has had access to advanced weaponry, large sums of money, and sophisticated logistics, raising questions about who has been funding the group. If Perry’s allegations are accurate, it means that a significant source of Boko Haram’s financing may now be cut off.

Security analysts in Nigeria are now calling for a thorough probe into USAID’s financial dealings in the country, demanding that the government track and trace every dollar that has entered the country under USAID programs.