According to American media Politico, on August 12 local time, U.S. President Trump was sued by two media organizations for introducing a paid service that allows users to access posts in advance through 'Real Social'.
According to reports, the news organization The Intercept and the non-profit organization Freedom of the Press Foundation filed a lawsuit in the New York Federal Court of Manhattan. They alleged that President Trump’s paid data service, “Truth API”, created by his related company Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), violates the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. They are requesting the court to suspend this service.
This lawsuit lists President Trump, the White House, and several officials as defendants, but Trump's media and technology corporations themselves are not listed as defendants. In addition to Trump, the defendants include his administrative assistant Natalie Harp, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, the White House Executive Office, and the White House Press Office.
It is reported that the Truth API will be officially launched on August 1, 2026. Subscription customers will have access to real-time postings from 10 highly influential Truth Social accounts, including Trump himself. The pricing structure is $100,000 per month for the highest tier, and customers who sign a three-year contract can enjoy a discounted price of $60,000 per month.
According to CNN Business, Trump's media team revealed during his first investor conference call on August 10 that since the service launched, 'more than 10' client agreements have been signed, with most of the clients being high-frequency trading companies.
CNN reported on August 11 local time that “the Wall Street company paid up to $100,000 to obtain Trump’s posts in advance”. Screenshot of the report
According to multiple American media outlets including Tasmania Times and Reuters, the plaintiff described the plan in a 30-page complaint as "extraordinary, corrupt, and unconstitutional." The complaint stated that "the president gained economic benefits by providing government information that 'affected the market' to those who were willing and able to pay his personal company."
The plaintiff claims that Trump, through his corporate platform, issued policy statements related to tariffs and Middle Eastern conflicts, which could affect market prices of stocks and oil. Paid customers could obtain this information in advance and trade accordingly, resulting in a serious inequality in information access. The complaint states that in just last year alone, about 9,000 to 11,000 posts and re-postings on Trump’s account were never followed by any official statements from the White House.
According to Reuters, Trump’s media and technology group responded by saying that selling quick data access is a common practice in the industry. The company stated in a statement: “Information from President Trump is spread through numerous platforms and news outlets, many of which offer subscription API services. Now, left-wing activists are attempting to weaponize the courts to again suppress him and harm our shareholders.” Neither the White House nor Trump’s media organization responded to requests for comment.
According to ABC News, Trump is the largest shareholder in Trump Media & Technology Group. He holds 41% of the company's shares through a revocable trust. His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., serves as the company’s director and is responsible for managing the trust. Subscriber revenues from the Truth API service flow directly into this publicly held company, which is majority-owned by Trump.
Currently, the Manhattan Federal Court has not made a decision regarding the temporary restraining order request filed by the plaintiff.
