GOP senators criticize Trump plan to sell access to Truth Social posts

GOP senators at odds with President Trump are slamming the plan floated by his social media company to sell faster access to the president’s market-moving online posts to wealthy trading firms, which could give them a crucial edge in the financial markets.     

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, announced last week it would launch “Truth API” — a direct data feed that would give investment firms “real-time access to posts from the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts.”

Business-focused media outlets including Reuters and CNBC reported that executives at Truth Social discussed charging Wall Street traders and investment firms as much as $100,000 a month for faster access to the president’s posts.

TMTG has also pitched a discounted plan that would cost $60,000 per month if a client firm agrees to a three-year contract, according to Reuters and CNBC.

“I think that’s wrong. It’s a form of buying access,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his primary to a Trump-backed candidate earlier this year.

He said families “struggling to make ends meet” would wonder, “Why would you reward those who are already doing well when we should do more for those who are struggling?’”

Sen. Susan Collins (R), who faces a competitive reelection race in Maine, said she didn’t know the details of the plan but questioned its rationale. “That does not sound appropriate,” she said.

GOP lawmakers say the business move is poorly timed, as Democrats are making a major push on Capitol Hill to accuse Trump of self-dealing and corruption.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said selling VIP access to Trump’s statements before they become public raises questions about conflicts of interest and ethical propriety.

“Think it through. You are talking about the ability to move markets when you’re advancing information,” she said.

“This is where we’re getting $100,000 for you to buy your visa to be teacher in a place like Alaska. We don’t really want to be that place where everything comes down to pay for play,” she said.

Murkowski called the money-making........

© The Hill