Trump, White House Aide Natalie Harp Sued Over Truth Social "Truth API" That Sells Early Access to Official Posts

President Donald Trump and White House aide Natalie Harp are defendants in a lawsuit challenging a Truth Social subscription program that charges up to $100,000 a month to provide paying customers with early, real-time access to posts from official accounts.

What the Lawsuit Says

Filed on Sept. 17 by watchdog groups American Oversight and Campaign for Accountability, the complaint alleges the "Truth API" subscription scheme denies the public equal and timely access to government information and violates the First and Fifth Amendments as well as federal law. Plaintiffs name Trump, Harp, several administration officials, federal agencies and White House offices as defendants.

How the Truth API Works

The Truth API, launched on August 1, offers a direct, real-time feed of posts from selected Truth Social accounts to paying subscribers. Listed subscription tiers include $100,000 per month or $60,000 per month with a three-year commitment.

Accounts Included

• President Donald Trump
• The White House account
• Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
• FBI Director Kash Patel

Why Plaintiffs Object

The plaintiffs argue that administration officials often use Truth Social to announce significant policy actions and personnel changes. The complaint cites examples including a January post claiming a U.S. strike in Venezuela and the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro, updates about the war in Iran, and other market-sensitive statements.

"Information the Trump Administration disseminates on Truth Social through its official accounts can have significant consequences for the global economy," the complaint says.

The filing contends Truth API subscribers receive potentially market-moving information before the broader public, creating the opportunity to profit from early access.

Commercial Stakes

Kevin McGurn, interim CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, said in a July press release that "markets already move on Truth Social posts" and predicted Truth API could become a meaningful revenue source. He told CNBC in late August that subscribers were in the "mid-teens," a figure that—at the advertised price tiers—could already imply more than $1 million in monthly revenue.

The complaint notes that this monthly revenue estimate would exceed the company’s total reported revenue for the first quarter of 2026, according to plaintiffs.

Conflict-Of-Interest Concerns

Plaintiffs also highlight potential financial incentives: before his second term, Trump transferred his shares in Trump Media & Technology Group into the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust. The complaint says the trust now owns about 41.4% of the company, with those shares valued at more than $1 billion and Trump named as the trust's sole beneficiary.

Given the trust's stake and the potential revenue from Truth API, the lawsuit alleges the administration may have reasons to route market-moving announcements to Truth Social to benefit subscribers and indirectly the company's value.

Next Steps

The lawsuit seeks relief for what the plaintiffs call unequal access to official information. Newsweek contacted the White House and Trump Media & Technology Group for comment outside regular business hours, and their responses (if any) were not included in the filing.

Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.