Trump’s Early Post Access Sparks Corruption Concerns

Truth Social has officially rolled out a subscription-based data service giving paying customers faster, real-time access to posts from Donald Trump and other high-profile accounts for up to $100,000 per month.

Truth API Launch Details and Pricing

Trump Media and Technology Group officially rolled out its new subscription-based data service on Saturday, according to a company release. The application programming interface, known as Truth API, provides businesses with what interim CEO Kevin McGurn called a direct, licensed, real-time feed of the platform’s most market-moving Truths. Trading firms and other paying subscribers can access posts earlier than standard users for a fee of up to $100,000 per month.

The new offering mirrors paid data services available on competing social media platforms, though carrying a particularly steep price tag. While the announcement does not specifically mention Donald Trump, his @realDonaldTrump account remains by far the platform’s largest. As of Saturday, the account held 13 million followers, and the president frequently uses it to announce major policy decisions before making them elsewhere.

Democratic Lawmakers Call for SEC Investigation

The rollout comes just days after Democratic senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to examine the new service. In a letter dated Tuesday and sent to SEC chair Paul Atkins, the lawmakers urged the agency to investigate whether the company was breaking the law, citing potential market manipulation and insider trading.

“This appears to be an outrageous abuse of the President’s office for his personal benefit that undermines everyday investors and the integrity of our markets, while enriching Wall Street and other wealthy insiders,” Schiff and Warren wrote in their letter to the SEC.

Critics point out that Trump has repeatedly used Truth Social to reveal significant policy moves with the potential to shift financial markets. Posts involving tariffs and the Iran war have drawn particular attention, as investors remain concerned that rising oil prices could keep inflation elevated and potentially lead the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates.

Financial Context and Stock Performance

Trump Media’s stock has fallen by more than 70% since the president took office last year, wiping out roughly $6bn in shareholder value. Those losses, combined with billions more in investor losses connected to new Trump family cryptocurrency ventures, came under increased scrutiny after Trump’s annual financial disclosure showed he generated more than $1 billion in revenue last year from the same companies and offerings.

Prior to Truth API’s debut, shares of Trump Media climbed 5.5% to $10.39 shortly before the market closed on Friday, as reported by Forbes. The company has primarily depended on advertising revenue, but the new API service could expand its revenue sources if it proves successful.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Truth API?

Truth API is a subscription-based data service offered by Trump Media and Technology Group that provides businesses and trading firms with a direct, real-time feed of posts from Truth Social.

How much does the Truth API subscription cost?

According to Trump Media and Technology Group, paying subscribers can access the data feed for a fee of up to $100,000 per month.

Who regulators are looking into the service?

Democratic senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to SEC chair Paul Atkins urging the agency to investigate whether the platform’s new data service violates the law.