Federal Prosecutors Challenge Trump's Plan to Sell Early Access to Social Media Posts
Over 50 former federal prosecutors have filed a brief opposing a service that would sell early access to President Trump's Truth Social posts for $100,000 per month. They argue the arrangement could violate federal criminal statutes and allow officials to profit from government announcements. The filing supports a preliminary injunction sought by media organizations.
The amicus brief, filed by 53 former prosecutors and FBI agents with over 880 years of combined service, targets Truth API, a data licensing product from Trump Media & Technology Group. The service charges financial firms $100,000 monthly for early access to posts from President Trump and other officials, with reports suggesting nearly a dozen subscribers already. The filing argues this could violate the Securities Exchange Act, Trade Secrets Act, and conflict-of-interest statutes, potentially exposing both the president and paying subscribers to criminal liability. The brief supports a preliminary injunction sought by The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, though no lawsuit has been filed yet.
This case could reshape how market-moving government information is disseminated, potentially deterring similar paid-access schemes by public officials. If the injunction succeeds, it may reinforce norms that official announcements must be equally accessible, protecting retail investors and public trust. Conversely, a ruling favoring the service could normalize monetizing government communications, creating systemic risks for market fairness and democratic accountability. The outcome may also influence how financial firms assess legal exposure when subscribing to such products.