Selling Early Access to Trump Truth Social Posts Is Illegal, Ex-Prosecutors Say

The recent lawsuit against Trump Media & Technology Group’s Truth API data feed has shed light on a disturbing trend that threatens to undermine the integrity of our financial system. The service allows Wall Street investors to pay $100,000 for early access to President Trump’s posts on Truth Social, raising serious concerns about insider trading and the corrupting influence of money in politics.

This issue is not just about a media company’s business model or a group of former prosecutors’ opinion; it’s about how power and privilege can be used to gain an unfair advantage in the market. By selling early access to Truth Social posts, Trump Media & Technology Group has created a shadow market that allows those with deep pockets to gain insight into the President’s thoughts and actions before they are publicly disclosed.

The scheme creates a risk of corruption and defies anti-corruption interests embodied in the Constitution, ethics codes, and federal laws. It’s a Faustian bargain that undermines transparency and accountability principles guiding our democracy. The hypothetical example cited in the brief illustrates this point: imagine President Trump announcing at 11 a.m. that he is imposing tariffs on a country exporting computer chips, but paid subscribers gain access to the news at 9 a.m., allowing them to sell computer chip stocks before the news becomes public.

This is not just about President Trump or his media company; it’s about the broader culture of privilege and entitlement in our society. The fact that former federal prosecutors felt compelled to intervene on behalf of the plaintiffs speaks volumes about the depth of concern among those dedicated to upholding the law.

The implications of this trend for our democracy are far-reaching. Do we want to create a system where money and power are used to gain an unfair advantage, or do we want to uphold principles of transparency and accountability? The answer requires a fundamental shift in our culture and values, one that recognizes the corrosive influence of money and privilege on our institutions.

The rule of law is not just a set of abstract principles; it’s a living, breathing force shaping our society every day. As we move forward, it’s essential to keep our eyes fixed on the bigger picture and recognize the dark side of insider trading lurking in the shadows of our financial system.

A hearing on the request for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for October 7 at the federal courthouse in Manhattan. It remains to be seen whether the court will take action against Truth Social’s shadow market. But one thing is clear: this issue will not go away anytime soon.