Trump Media sells early access to president's posts for $100,000
Donald Trump’s media company has launched a service selling early access to his posts for up to $100,000 a month, raising concerns about market manipulation that could destabilize transatlantic trade and energy markets.
Trump Media and Technology Group rolled out a subscription-based data service on Saturday called Truth API. For up to $100,000 per month, trading firms can receive a real-time feed of posts from Trump and other prominent accounts before regular users. Interim CEO Kevin McGurn said the service provides "a direct, licensed, real-time feed of the platform’s most market-moving Truths".
For European investors, the commercialization of Trump's social media output adds a new layer of opacity to transatlantic market risks. The US president frequently uses his account, which has 13 million followers, to announce major policy shifts before official channels. His posts regarding tariffs directly impact European exporters, while his commentary on Iran influences global oil prices and European inflation expectations.
The service sets Trump Media apart from standard social media data offerings because the platform's primary market-mover is also its largest shareholder. The president stands to profit personally from a paywall placed around his own policy pronouncements. This dynamic has drawn accusations of corruption and insider trading from critics.
Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff have called on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate the launch. In a letter sent on Tuesday to SEC chair Paul Atkins, the lawmakers warned the service undermines market integrity. “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,” they wrote.
The rollout follows a period of extreme volatility tied to Trump's online activity. Last year, global stock markets tumbled over fears of a "Trumpcession" as the president published more than 100 posts in a single day. His remarks on Iran have proven particularly sensitive for investors monitoring energy-driven inflation and potential Federal Reserve rate hikes.
Trump Media has seen its stock fall by more than 70% since the president took office, erasing roughly $6 billion (£4.4 billion) in shareholder value. Shares climbed 5.5% to $10.39 on Friday, ahead of the API launch. The new subscription model represents an attempt to diversify revenue beyond advertising, coinciding with Trump's financial disclosure showing he generated over $1 billion last year from his media and crypto ventures.
