Trump Media reportedly mulling fee for first access to social media posts

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing Reuters and similar reporting by the Financial Times, reported that Trump Media and Technology Group has discussed charging financial traders and firms for faster access to President Donald Trump’s Truth Social posts. The reported proposal included a top monthly fee of about $100,000, with a lower $60,000 monthly tier for companies agreeing to a three-year plan.

The issue centers on Truth Social’s planned paid data product, “Truth API,” which Trump Media said would provide banks and trading firms licensed access to posts from the platform’s 10 most influential accounts. Trump’s account is the most prominent among them. Because presidential statements can affect markets, critics said giving paying customers early or privileged access to his posts could create an unfair informational advantage.

Al Jazeera noted that Trump has often used Truth Social for major announcements, including on trade policy and international conflict. The article cited past instances in which his posts were followed by significant market moves, including around tariff policy and global energy markets during tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

Ethics experts and Democratic lawmakers criticized the reported idea. Kathleen Clark of Washington University School of Law told The Associated Press that selling faster access to information about presidential actions would be an improper use of government power for personal enrichment. Senator Ron Wyden also condemned the plan, arguing it would benefit Wall Street traders and the Trump family. The report matters because it raises questions about public access to presidential communications, market fairness and conflicts of interest involving a company in which Trump holds a majority stake.