Trump and Harp Sued Over Truth Social Subscription Program
President Donald Trump and White House aide Natalie Harp face a lawsuit regarding a Truth Social program that charges $100,000 per month, offering subscribers early access to official government posts. Watchdog groups, American Oversight and Campaign for Accountability, filed the lawsuit on September 17. They claim this program denies the public equal and timely access to government information, violating the First and Fifth Amendments, along with federal law. Newsweek reached out to both the White House and Trump Media & Technology Group, owners of Truth Social, via email on Tuesday.
What Is Truth API?
The ‘Truth API’ program, introduced on August 1, delivers subscribers real-time updates from several prominent Truth Social accounts, including those held by government officials. These subscription plans cost $100,000 monthly, or $60,000 with a three-year agreement. An API, or application programming interface, allows different software systems to communicate and share data. Truth API gives paying users a direct, real-time feed from select Truth Social accounts.
The accounts involved include those of Trump, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Harp is accused in the lawsuit because she is reportedly the key White House staffer assisting Trump with his Truth Social posts.
Market-Moving Information
The lawsuit highlights that Trump and other officials often announce critical policy updates on Truth Social. Examples include Trump’s January announcement about a strike against Venezuela and updates on the war in Iran. These announcements can significantly impact the global economy.
Kevin McGurn, interim CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, stated in a July press release that markets respond to Truth Social posts. He expects Truth API to become a substantial revenue source for the company. The complaint mentions that Truth API subscribers receive potentially market-moving information before the public, allowing them to profit from early knowledge of governmental actions.
McGurn communicated to CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in August that Truth API subscribers numbered in the mid-teens. With different subscription tiers, revenue had surpassed $1 million in a month. This figure exceeds what the company earned in the first quarter of 2026 from all sources.
The lawsuit also points out that Trump and some officials have financial ties to the company. The potential revenue stream from Truth API gives Trump an incentive to ensure its attractiveness by offering early access to market-sensitive policy announcements. The plaintiffs argue that Trump is encouraging officials and agencies to participate in this practice.
Trump transferred his ownership in Trump Media & Technology Group to the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust before starting his second term. The trust is the largest shareholder, holding approximately 41.4%, valued at over $1 billion, with Trump as the sole beneficiary.