Key facts
- A lawsuit alleges Truth Social's paid early-access service violates the First and Fifth Amendments.
- The service charges up to $100,000 per month for early access to President Trump's posts.
- Plaintiffs include The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
- The suit seeks to stop Trump Media from exclusively posting official government information on Truth Social.
- President Trump, his executive assistant Natalie Harp, and deputy chief of staff Daniel Scavino are named as defendants.
President Donald Trump and his company, Trump Media & Technology, are facing a federal lawsuit challenging Truth Social's new paid early-access service. The service, known as Truth API, charges up to $100,000 per month for Wall Street firms to gain milliseconds-faster access to Trump's posts on U.S. policy, war, and tariffs.
The lawsuit, filed by The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, alleges that selling preferential access to government-generated information is 'profoundly corrupt' and violates the First Amendment's guarantee of equal access for the press and public, as well as the Fifth Amendment's prohibition on charging unreasonable conditions for government benefits.
Plaintiffs are seeking to block Trump Media from forcing the exclusive posting of official government information on Truth Social and demand an end to the paid service. The suit also names Trump's deputy chief of staff Daniel Scavino and executive assistant Natalie J. Harp as defendants.
Trump Media defended the service, stating that selling fast access to traders is common in the industry and that the plaintiffs are attempting to 'weaponize the courts to censor' the president. The company also benefits from a separate deal giving Truth Social six hours of exclusive access to Trump's posts before he distributes them elsewhere.