The lawsuit alleges that Trump is unfairly profiting by charging up to $100,000 a month for exclusive access to the presidential post.
Published August 12, 2026
The publication The Intercept and the nonprofit Freedom of the Press Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump to prevent his social media services from selling advance access to his posts.
Wednesday’s court filing argues that subscription-based services limit access to public interest matters.
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“This program is deeply corrupt,” the complaint says. “The president seeks to benefit financially by providing ‘market-moving’ government information to those willing and able to pay his company.”
The lawsuit cites the U.S. Constitution’s right to a free press and argues that the plan violates the First Amendment’s implicit guarantee of “equal access to the president’s publications.”
It also argues that the subscription service violates Fifth Amendment protections that limit the government from charging arbitrary amounts for access to government information.
In addition to Trump, the complaint also names White House aide Natalie Harp and chief of staff Daniel Scavino in their official capacities.
The lawsuit centers on the Truth API, which was announced in July and launched on August 1st.
The subscription service, a product of Trump Media and Technology Group, charges subscribers between $60,000 and $100,000 a month for real-time access to posts by Trump and other prominent accounts on the group’s social media platform, TruthSocial.
According to the complaint, more than 10 customers had already signed up as of the August 10 earnings announcement.
Critics say President Trump uses his Truth Social account to announce policy changes that could affect the economy. For example, President Trump’s comments regarding the US-Israel war against Iran are sending ripples through the global oil market.
Trump holds the largest stake in Trump Media and Technology Group, valued at about $1 billion, down from about $4 billion when it was put into trust in early 2025.
“President Trump is trying to line his own pockets by appropriating government information that he has no right to sell,” said Ben Muessig, editor-in-chief of The Intercept. “We won’t leave it alone.”
Trump Media said in a statement that the president’s communications already flow through “numerous platforms and news outlets,” many of which offer subscription APIs.
The White House has not commented on the controversy. The case will be heard in federal court in the Southern District of New York.
