Trump sued over Truth Social fast-track posts

Donald Trump is being sued by two US media groups over a new Truth Social service that charges up to $100,000 a month for early access to his posts.

The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in New York federal court by The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation.

The suit argues that selling priority access to the president’s messages raises serious concerns, describing it as “extraordinary, corrupt and unconstitutional”.

The BBC has approached Truth Social owner the Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) and the White House for comment. TMTG has previously dismissed concerns about the paid service.

The paid Truth Social service offers subscribers near-instant delivery of Trump’s posts, arriving seconds before they appear for the general public. The plaintiffs say those moments matter because Trump often uses the platform to announce major developments, such as during the Iran war, that can move financial markets.

They argue the setup gives an unfair advantage to those who can afford it, creating a system where market-sensitive information reaches paying clients first.

More than 10 firms now pay up to $100,000 a month for fast access to Truth Social posts.

Trump Media and Technology Group has said the product is aimed at businesses seeking faster data feeds and has dismissed concerns about how the information is used.

The company unveiled the service, called Truth API, in mid-July and said it would deliver posts from Trump and other high-profile accounts in milliseconds.

Trump is the most followed person on the platform, with about 13 million followers, ahead of his eldest son Donald Trump Jr., who has around 7.5 million.