Trump Faces Lawsuit Regarding Paid Early Access to Truth Social Posts
Donald Trump faces a lawsuit that aims to prevent paid early access to his Truth Social posts via a new service.
On Wednesday, two media organizations filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, aiming to halt a new service that offers paid access to the US president’s posts on his Truth Social platform.
The complaint, submitted in Manhattan federal court by The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, contests Truth API, a service provided by Trump Media & Technology Group that demands up to $100,000 monthly for early access to 10 prominent Truth Social accounts, including that of Trump.
Truth API launched on August 1, just four days after Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Adam Schiff of California urged the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether the service compromised the integrity of financial markets while benefiting Wall Street, affluent insiders, and Trump.
The White House has yet to provide a response to a request for comment. Other officials from the White House are also named as defendants, while Trump Media is not included.
Trump has consistently utilized Truth Social to share news, including updates on tariffs and Middle Eastern conflicts, which can influence the prices of stocks, oil, and various other assets.
Wednesday’s lawsuit aims to prevent the White House from sharing official government announcements solely on Truth Social while the paid feed is active.
Plaintiffs Describe the Service as ‘Deeply Corrupt’
In the complaint, the plaintiffs described the Truth API service as “profoundly corrupt” due to the financial benefits the president receives when subscribers enroll.
They also argued that the service infringed upon the First Amendment of the US Constitution, asserting that everyone should have equal access to Trump’s announcements. Furthermore, they contended that there was no valid government interest in monetizing his posts for private subscribers, enabling him to profit from them.
As stated in the complaint, a significant number of Trump’s 9,000 to 11,000 posts and reposts on Truth Social throughout his second term in the White House were not accompanied by any official statements from the White House.
A spokesperson for Trump Media stated that “countless” platforms and news outlets, including numerous subscription-based services, are already sharing information from Trump, a member of the Republican Party.
“Currently, left-wing activists are attempting to use the courts improperly to silence him” and negatively impact shareholders, the spokesperson stated.
During an earnings call on Monday, Kevin McGurn, the interim chief executive of Trump Media, stated that the Truth API allows subscribers to receive news “fractionally faster” than others.
Trump holds the position of the largest shareholder in Trump Media, owning a 41.3% stake valued at around $950 million through his Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, as reported by Reuters.
His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., serves as a director at Trump Media and manages the trust.
Other accounts available via the Truth API include those of Vise President JD Vance, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, and the White House, according to the complaint.
The three current commissioners of the SEC are affiliated with the Republican Party.
