Donald Trump’s media company, Trump Media & Technology, plans to sell Wall Street traders early access to posts from high-ranking accounts, including possibly his own, on his Truth Social platform. This move has raised concerns about the potential for conflicts of interest and the impact on the financial markets.
How the New Service Will Work
The new service, called Truth PSI, will allow high-frequency traders to see certain posts before other users, potentially giving them an edge in the market. Trump’s posts have been known to move financial markets, with his announcements on tariffs and other policy decisions sending stocks soaring or plunging.
Experts have criticized the plan, saying it raises ethical concerns and could be seen as a way for Trump to profit from his office. “It’s odious, selling access to the highest bidders on Wall Street,” said Dylan Hedler-Gaudette, an expert on federal ethic rules. “Everything he says has market implications.”
Legal Implications
While the plan may raise ethical concerns, it is not clear if it is illegal. Conflict of interest laws would bar U.S. government officials from owning a company that profits off their office by selling access to their decisions through public posts, but the president and vice president are excluded from this provision.
Trump has refused to divest from his business interests or put them in a blind trust, unlike previous presidents. His company has been struggling, with its stock price plummeting more than 70% since he took office.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
