Trump sued over posts for sale on Truth: ‘A corrupt and unconstitutional system’

Donald Trump has been taken to court by two organisations of journalists and activists seeking to block the new service launched on Truth Social offering paid access to the president’s posts, many of which are capable of influencing the markets.

The complaint was filed at the Federal Court in Manhattan by The Intercept, a journalistic organisation, and the Freedom of the Press Association, an independent group campaigning for press freedom. The complaint targets Trump Media & Technology Group’s Truth API service, which offers subscribers willing to pay up to $100,000 a month early access to posts published by the president and other high-profile users. ‘President Trump,’ the complaint states, ‘charges $100,000 a month for priority access to his official government announcements on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns. This scheme is corrupt and unconstitutional.’

The plaintiffs have also argued that the service violates the First Amendment to the US Constitution, as everyone must have equal access to Trump’s posts and there is no legitimate public interest in selling Trump’s posts to private subscribers, thereby allowing him to profit from them. ‘The President,’ the complaint states, ‘intends to make a financial profit by providing government information capable of moving the markets to those who are willing and able to pay his private company.’

Trump has long been using Truth Social to spread news — for example, on tariffs on imports and conflicts in the Middle East — that can influence share prices, oil prices and other markets.

Truth API was launched on 1 August, and four days later, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff called on the SEC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, to investigate whether the service undermines the integrity of the financial markets, whilst enriching Wall Street, privileged investors and Trump.