U.S. President Donald Trump has been sued over a new subscription service that offers paying customers early access to his posts on Truth Social, with media organisations arguing that the arrangement gives wealthy subscribers an unfair advantage and violates constitutional protections.
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in a federal court in Manhattan by investigative news outlet The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, challenges Truth API, a premium feed launched by Trump Media & Technology Group that provides early access to posts from 10 high-profile Truth Social accounts, including Trump’s.
The service, which launched on August 1, reportedly charges subscribers up to $100,000 per month for early access to the content.
The legal action comes days after Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate whether the service could undermine the integrity of financial markets while benefiting Trump, Wall Street firms and wealthy investors.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While several White House officials are named as defendants, Trump Media & Technology Group is not a party to the lawsuit.
Trump has frequently used Truth Social to announce policy decisions and comment on issues such as tariffs and conflicts in the Middle East, with many of his posts having the potential to influence stock, commodity and financial markets.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to bar the White House from publishing official government announcements exclusively on Truth Social while the paid subscription service remains in operation.
Plaintiffs Allege Constitutional Violations
In the complaint, The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation described Truth API as “profoundly corrupt,” arguing that the arrangement allows the president to profit financially from access to official government communications.
They contend that the service violates the First Amendment by denying the public equal access to presidential announcements and creating a paywall around information of public importance.
The lawsuit also argues that many of Trump’s estimated 9,000 to 11,000 Truth Social posts and reposts since returning to office were never subsequently issued through official White House channels, making the platform the primary source of significant government announcements.
Responding to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Trump Media said numerous media organisations and digital platforms already distribute Trump’s public statements, including through subscription-based services.
“Now, left-wing activists are trying to wrongfully weaponize the courts to censor him and harm shareholders,” the spokesperson said.
