A media company majority-owned by U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed charging investment firms and high-speed financial market traders up to $100,000 (about ₦150 million) a month for premium access to the president’s posts on his Truth Social platform, Reuters reported.
The proposed service, called Truth API, would deliver Trump’s Truth Social posts to paying subscribers a fraction of a second before they become available to the general public. While the advantage may seem negligible, it could translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars in gains on large trades by firms that use automated systems to buy and sell shares, currencies and commodities within milliseconds.
Trump’s comments on tariffs, trade policy, oil prices and major companies have frequently triggered sharp swings in financial markets. The service is designed to help traders respond to those announcements ahead of everyone else.
According to Reuters, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) discussed charging $100,000 a month for its fastest service, while customers willing to sign three-year contracts could pay a discounted $60,000 monthly. Subscribers would also receive archived posts from 10 influential Truth Social accounts, including those of Trump, members of his family and prominent supporters.
The proposal is part of Trump’s media company’s efforts to diversify its revenue beyond advertising and subscriptions as it competes in the crowded social media market. The Trump family-controlled company has seen its shares fall about 27% this year, giving it a market value of roughly $2.7 billion.
The plan has nevertheless sparked concern in Washington.
Critics argue that allowing investors to pay for faster access to statements from a sitting U.S. president risks turning official communications into a commercial product. They say wealthy firms could gain an unfair advantage over other investors simply because they can afford the premium service.
Legal experts quoted by Reuters said the proposal is unlikely to breach U.S. securities laws because premium market data services are already widely sold to financial firms. However, they said Trump’s dual role as U.S. president and majority owner of the company offering the service raises broader ethical concerns.
The White House did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
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