Truth API brings Trump Media its first million: monetization of Trump's posts reaches a new level
Trump Media has confirmed that its early access service for Truth Social posts has already generated over $1 million in revenue. This is the first significant financial success for a platform that has remained deeply unprofitable until now.
The product in question is Truth API, launched in early August. The concept is simple: subscribers get priority access to posts from the most influential accounts, including Donald Trump himself. The price tag ranges from $60,000 to $100,000 per month, and demand appears to have exceeded expectations.
Who pays and why
So far, more than ten companies specializing in high-frequency trading have signed up for the service. For them, the ability to see Trump's statements a fraction of a second before everyone else is not just an advantage but direct access to a market indicator. Interim CEO Kevin McGern confirmed that negotiations with AI companies are already underway, and a separate pricing tier is being prepared for retail traders.
However, not everything is smooth sailing. Lawmakers have already criticized this model: essentially, a company controlled by the Trump family profits from his own statements, which can move markets. Congressman Jamie Raskin has demanded the full list of subscribers be disclosed, while Democrats are pushing for an official investigation by the SEC.
The numbers don't lie
Despite the new revenue stream, Trump Media's core business remains unprofitable. The net loss for the second quarter was $238 million—more than ten times higher than last year's figure. Revenue rose 89% to $1.7 million, but most of the losses are tied to the revaluation of bitcoin and stocks on the balance sheet.
Analyst Markus Thielen from 10x Research gave a harsh assessment: Trump Media operates more like a crypto fund than a media company. And it's hard to argue with that—the company has already abandoned the launch of a prediction markets platform with Crypto.com and is reviewing its crypto initiatives under McGern's leadership.
My take
Truth API is a smart move from a monetization standpoint, but it carries serious regulatory risks. Selling access to information that can influence financial markets is a minefield. If the SEC decides to dig deeper, Trump Media could face consequences that would wipe out that first million. For now, investors are watching: can the service become a stable revenue source, or will it remain a one-off success against a loss-making business? Over the past five days, the company's shares have already lost 9% following a recent rally.