Two US media organisations are taking legal action against former President Donald Trump over Truth Social’s premium service that allegedly favours those who pay for early access to his posts. The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in a New York federal court.
Allegations of Unfair Advantage
The media groups contend that Truth Social’s paid service, offering posts moments before they are publicly available, breaches constitutional principles. They argue it provides an unfair edge to subscribers who can afford the up to $100,000 monthly fee, especially as Trump sometimes shares information that can affect financial markets and national events like the Iran conflict.
Response from Trump Media & Technology Group
Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) has dismissed the lawsuit, labelling its filers as “left-wing activists” aiming to restrict the former president’s speech. TMTG defends the premium offering, asserting that it’s designed for businesses requiring quicker data access. They unveiled the service, named Truth API, in mid-July, which promises nearly instant updates from Trump and other notable figures.
Ownership and Financial Stakes
The lawsuit maintains that Trump himself, through a revocable trust, holds about 41% of TMTG, a stake valued over $1 billion. It criticises the model as unconstitutional and corrupt, given Trump’s influence over the company.
Statements from the Plaintiffs
Seth Stern from the Freedom of the Press Foundation described the priority-based distribution of information for profit as flagrantly unconstitutional. Meanwhile, David Bralow from The Intercept highlighted that charging for early access contradicts the principles of a free press.
Truth Social’s Justification
In response to these accusations, a spokesperson from TMTG stressed that President Trump’s information is propagated across various platforms, some of which also require subscriptions for premium access. The spokesperson denounced the lawsuit as an attempt to wrongly suppress Trump’s communication and criticised the Freedom of the Press Foundation for allegedly breaching Truth Social’s terms. Despite these allegations, Trump’s platform has rapidly grown, with him being the most followed user, boasting around 13 million followers.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.