Kathmandu— The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation have filed a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump challenging his subscription-based service offering advance access to his social media posts. The suit, filed Wednesday, argues that charging up to $100,000 monthly for real-time access to presidential communications restricts public access to matters of public interest and potentially violates constitutional rights. The plaintiffs claim the practice amounts to an unfair financial benefit for Trump by selling “market-moving” government information to paying subscribers.

Lawsuit Claims Constitutional Violations

The lawsuit centers on Truth API, a service launched August 1 by Trump Media and Technology Group that provides subscribers with real-time access to posts from Donald Trump and other prominent accounts on his social media platform, Truth Social. Court filings argue this subscription model infringes upon the First Amendment’s guarantee of equal access to presidential announcements and also violates the Fifth Amendment's protections against arbitrary charges for government information. The complaint specifically names Trump, White House aide Natalie Harp, and Deputy Chief of Staff Daniel Scavino as defendants.

Financial Implications and Market Impact

According to the lawsuit, more than 10 customers had already subscribed to Truth API as of August 10. Critics contend that Trump’s posts on Truth Social often contain policy announcements with significant economic implications; his comments regarding the US-Israel war and Iran, for example, have reportedly impacted global oil markets. The complaint highlights that Trump holds a substantial stake in Trump Media and Technology Group, currently valued at approximately $1 billion – down from around $4 billion when placed in a trust earlier in 2025 – suggesting a direct financial incentive for the subscription service.

Plaintiffs Denounce 'Corrupt Scheme'

Ben Muessig, editor-in-chief of The Intercept, strongly condemned the practice. “Trump is trying to enrich himself by privatizing government information that he has no right to sell,” Muessig said. “We won’t let it stand.” The lawsuit describes the scheme as “profoundly corrupt” and asserts that the president should not be able to profit from providing privileged access to official communications.

Trump Media Defends Service

In a statement, Trump Media argued that presidential communications are already disseminated through numerous platforms and news outlets, many of which also offer subscription-based APIs. The White House has yet to issue a comment on the legal challenge. The case is scheduled to be heard in federal court for the Southern District of New York.

The lawsuit seeks to block Trump’s social media service from selling advance access to his posts, arguing it undermines public access to vital information and potentially violates constitutional rights.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.