US President Donald Trump has introduced a new paid service that gives subscribers early access to posts on his social media platform, Truth Social. The move has triggered sharp criticism, with opponents accusing the President of using his office for personal financial gain and raising concerns about possible market manipulation.
On Saturday, Trump Media and Technology Group officially launched the subscription-based service, expanding the platform’s offerings for businesses and institutional users.
Truth API Offers Early Access to Posts
The new service, called Truth API, provides paying customers with real-time access to posts from Trump and other high-profile Truth Social accounts.
According to interim CEO Kevin McGurn, the application programming interface (API) is designed to give businesses “a direct, licensed, real-time feed of the platform’s most market-moving Truths”.
The service allows trading firms and other subscribers to receive posts before regular users. Access comes at a premium, with subscription fees reaching as much as $100,000 per month.
Although several major social media platforms offer similar data services, the high subscription cost and Trump's close connection to Truth Social have attracted widespread attention.
Trump's Role Raises Conflict of Interest Questions
Truth Social differs from many competing platforms because its most influential user is also the President of the United States. Trump is the largest shareholder of Trump Media and Technology Group, the publicly traded company that owns Truth Social. As a result, critics argue that he could personally benefit from the new subscription service.
His @realDonaldTrump account is the platform's most-followed profile, with around 13 million followers as of Saturday. Trump frequently uses the platform to announce major policy decisions before sharing them through other official channels, making his posts valuable to investors and financial markets.
Critics Raise Market Manipulation Concerns
The launch quickly drew criticism from political opponents and ethics experts. Critics argued that selling early access to Trump's posts could give wealthy investors an unfair advantage over ordinary market participants.
They also claimed the service raises concerns about insider trading and market manipulation because Trump's announcements often influence stock prices and financial markets.
In recent months, the President has used Truth Social to discuss major policy decisions, including tariff announcements and developments related to the conflict with Iran, both of which have affected investor sentiment.
Democratic Senators Seek SEC Investigation
The service launched only days after Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren urged the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to examine the new business model.
In a letter sent on Tuesday to SEC Chair Paul Atkins, the lawmakers asked the agency to investigate whether Trump Media and Technology Group had violated securities laws.
They wrote, “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.”
Trump's Posts Continue to Influence Markets
Trump remains highly active on Truth Social. Last year alone, he published more than 100 posts in a single day, often commenting on economic policies, financial markets and international affairs.
His social media activity intensified during periods of market volatility, including sharp declines in global stock markets as investors worried that his economic policies could trigger a "Trumpcession" in the United States.
His frequent posts about Iran have also attracted close attention from investors, who fear that rising tensions in the region could push oil prices higher, fuel inflation and force the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
The launch of Truth API has therefore intensified debate over the intersection of politics, financial markets and social media, with critics demanding closer regulatory scrutiny while the company promotes the service as a premium tool for businesses seeking faster access to market-moving information.