Trump seeks to profit from posts

A federal judge will soon decide if Donald Trump can charge up to one hundred thousand dollars monthly for API access to Truth Social posts announcing government decisions.

Trump owns Truth Social

Trump is the largest stakeholder and majority owner of Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company that owns Truth Social. The API value comes largely from his role as president.

Posts announce major decisions

Trump's Truth Social posts have announced military strikes, ceasefires, tariffs, immigration policies, and major changes in his administration. News groups argue he cannot charge for access to government information.

News groups cite constitutional violations

Suing news organizations argue the fees violate the First Amendment, Presidential Records Act, and Fifth Amendment by creating unequal access to government information and allowing Trump to profit from information he does not own.

DOJ compares posts to FDR

Department of Justice attorney Brantley Mayers argued Trump's posts are like Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats, a personal public service. Judge Paul Oetken responded that Roosevelt did not charge for his broadcasts.

“Well, President Roosevelt didn't charge money for his fireside chats, did he?”

Judge questions timing advantage

Judge Oetken initially asked if delaying public access by a fraction of a second would meaningfully harm the free press, calling it negligible to humans. But news groups argue the API provides more than speed.

API offers archive and records

The API provides a machine-readable feed and historic archive of all Trump's Truth Social posts. News groups can maintain reliable logs even when Trump deletes posts, which he frequently does.

Ruling expected within weeks

Judge Oetken did not rule from the bench and promised a written decision on whether to stop Trump from selling API access while in office. Courts typically treat such requests urgently.

Precedent concerns news groups

Nikhel Sus, chief counsel for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, warned that if Trump succeeds, other politicians could follow and more government information could be delayed behind paywalls.

“If the president is allowed to do this, it sets a very dangerous precedent for enabling public officials to profit off of their office.”