United States President Donald Trump’s social media company is reportedly considering charging a $100,00 monthly fee for priority access to his social media posts.
But that prospect has raised major ethical concerns, with critics denouncing the idea as a barrier to government transparency — and a means for Trump to profit from the presidency.
The news agency Reuters indicated on Friday that Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns the website Truth Social, has discussed charging financial traders and firms a steep fee for early access to Trump’s posts.
A lower-tier fee of $60,000 a month was also reportedly discussed for firms that sign up for a three-year plan.
The British newspaper The Financial Times also reported similar details.
As president of one of the world’s largest economies, Trump has the power to move markets with his statements. Economists say his remarks on social media — about new policies like tariffs or international conflicts — can spur changes in global financial prospects.
But pushback to the Truth Social fee proposal was swift. Trump has long garnered criticism for leveraging the power of his office for personal benefit, and ethics experts characterised any fee as a threat to the functioning of US democracy.
“He’s selling expedited, privileged access to information about what he is doing as president,” said Kathleen Clark, an expert in conflict-of-interest rules at Washington University School of Law.
She told The Associated Press news agency, “It’s yet more brazen corruption, an improper exploitation of government power to enrich himself.”
Trump has made frequent use of social media during his time in office. During his first term, he was an avid user on the social media platform Twitter, now X.
