US President Donald Trump has been sued by two media organisations over a new service that allows subscribers to receive faster access to posts published on his Truth Social platform.
The Intercept Media and the Freedom of the Press Foundation filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to block the service.
The service, known as Truth API, provides paying subscribers with near-instant access to posts from Trump and other prominent users on Truth Social before they become widely available.
The service reportedly costs between $60,000 and $100,000 per month and has been marketed largely to financial firms and other users seeking rapid access to potentially market-moving information.
The plaintiffs argue that the arrangement is unconstitutional because it gives paying customers preferential access to statements by the president that could contain information affecting financial markets.
They also allege that the arrangement could allow Trump to personally benefit from the sale of early access to his posts through Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that owns Truth Social.
The lawsuit alleges that the service violates the First and Fifth Amendments of the US Constitution and seeks to prevent the administration from using Truth Social as an exclusive channel for government announcements while offering faster access to paying customers.
Trump is the largest shareholder in Trump Media, with his stake held in a trust overseen by his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
Trump Media has defended the service, arguing that it only provides access to information that is already publicly available and accusing the plaintiffs of attempting to interfere with the company’s business.
The lawsuit is the latest legal challenge surrounding Trump’s use of Truth Social and the relationship between his personal social media activity, his presidency and his financial interests.
(The Whistler)