Lawsuit targets paid early access to Trump posts
Xinhua · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
President Donald Trump was sued in federal court in New York on Wednesday over a new Truth Social service that sells early access to his posts on U.S. policy. The lawsuit seeks to stop Trump Media & Technology Group from charging up to US$100,000 a month for faster access to posts that can move financial markets, including messages about war, tariffs and other government decisions.
Key Points
- The plaintiffs are The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, which called the arrangement extraordinary, corrupt and unconstitutional.
- Trump Media announced in July that users could buy early access, and AP reported the Truth API service rolled out earlier this month.
- The service costs up to US$100,000 a month, or US$60,000 monthly with a three-year commitment, according to the complaint and company plan.
- The lawsuit says the service violates First Amendment equal-access principles and Fifth Amendment limits on imposing unreasonable conditions on government benefits
- Trump is the largest shareholder in Trump Media, with his stake held in a trust overseen by his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr
Why It Matters
For investors and newsrooms in Hong Kong, the case raises questions about whether market-sensitive statements by a sitting U.S. president can be monetized through a private platform before reaching the wider public. It also points to possible further scrutiny, after Democratic lawmakers called for a Securities and Exchange Commission probe and Trump Media defended the service as standard industry practice.