Tag: political rally

  • Trump Media Offered $100K/Month for Prime Access to President’s Posts, Sources

    Trump Media Offered $100K/Month for Prime Access to President’s Posts, Sources

    Donald Trump’s social media company has floated the idea of charging Wall Street traders and investment firms up to $100,000 per month for faster access to his posts on Truth Social, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Recently, the company also proposed a discounted rate of $60,000 monthly for those who commit to a three-year subscription, although specifics remain confidential.

    On Thursday, Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG)—the owner of Truth Social—introduced a paid API service called “Truth API,” which offers banks and trading firms the quickest access to posts from the platform’s 10 most influential accounts. Details about pricing have not been disclosed. This marks TMTG’s first foray into data licensing, creating a new revenue stream but also drawing criticism from Democrats.

    Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, argued that this move benefits the Trump family financially and could make Wall Street traders wealthy. The White House has referred inquiries about Wyden’s comments to TMTG, which has yet to respond.

    Since Trump’s posts can significantly influence markets, many financial firms—especially high-frequency trading operations—depend on rapid access to social media updates. For example, on April 9, 2025, major stock indexes surged after Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he would suspend some tariffs for 90 days. Access to the Truth API could give these firms a critical milliseconds-long advantage, potentially yielding hundreds of thousands of dollars in gains on significant trades.

    The Financial Times reported earlier this week that discussions for the $100,000 monthly fee are underway. Meanwhile, TMTG’s new product aims to deliver continuous coverage of important posts, including an archive dating back to 2022. The company claims it has already secured some clients ahead of its August 1 launch, though client identities remain undisclosed.

    Among the most-followed accounts on Truth Social are Trump’s own, along with close allies like his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as prominent supporters such as Dan Bongino and Sean Hannity.

    Regulatory filings reveal that the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust controls approximately 114.75 million TMTG shares—around 41% of the company—overseeing Trump’s investments. Critics have questioned whether Trump and his family have been seeking to profit from policies announced during his presidency. In recent financial disclosures, Trump reported earning over $1.4 billion from his family’s crypto ventures last year, partially benefiting from policies he promoted.

    Opponents argue that the Truth API’s structure would be “wildly unethical,” suggesting it could profit Trump by providing preferential access to his posts. However, the legality remains uncertain due to a lack of clear-cut regulations. Experts point out that constitutional clauses against emoluments wouldn’t prohibit this, as they mainly target foreign gifts and state-sponsored benefits—not payments for prioritized social media data access.

    Additionally, traditional securities laws prohibit trading based on material, non-public information, but the current setup—where many users could see Trump’s posts early—may circumvent that restriction. Justice Department officials and regulatory agencies hadn’t anticipated such a scheme, and many see it as a potential avenue for improper influence and profit.

    Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the plan as an “egregious scheme to profit off the presidency and enrich Wall Street while doing nothing to help Americans.” While the White House emphasizes that Trump’s business interests are managed by his children, Trump himself benefits financially through his trust.

    TMTG’s shares, which have decreased about 27% this year, ended trading flat at $9.66 on Friday, valuing the company at roughly $2.7 billion.

  • 31+ Dead and 50+ Injured at Vijay’s Rally, Officials Report

    31+ Dead and 50+ Injured at Vijay’s Rally, Officials Report

    At least 31 individuals lost their lives, and over 50 others sustained injuries Saturday during a rally hosted by Tamil actor Vijay, who is actively campaigning for the upcoming elections, according to local officials.

    V Selvaraj, a senior police officer in Karur district where the tragedy occurred, stated, “Thirty-one people have died, and more than 50 are currently hospitalized.”

    The rally drew large crowds as part of Vijay’s ongoing regional campaign for his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

    Vijay, a household name in the film industry, launched his political party last year and has been campaigning since early this month ahead of the state elections scheduled for early next year.

    State legislator Senthil Balaji told reporters that 58 individuals had been hospitalized following what he described as a stampede. He also mentioned that Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister MK Stalin plans to visit the site on Sunday.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern over the incident in a message on X, saying, “The tragic event during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is extremely saddening.”

    Attempts to reach the Tamil Nadu health department and Chief Minister MK Stalin’s office for comment went unanswered.

    Stalin, in a post on X, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation: “The distressing incident at a political rally in Karur is deeply concerning. I have directed ministers and officials to provide immediate medical support to those affected and to deploy additional assistance from nearby Tiruchirappalli.”

    Approximately 44 doctors from the neighboring districts of Tiruchirappalli and Salem have reportedly been dispatched to assist amid the crisis.

  • Kirk Honored as US Martyr at Arizona Memorial Merging Faith and Politics

    Kirk Honored as US Martyr at Arizona Memorial Merging Faith and Politics

    A screen displays US Vice President JD Vance giving a speech while attendees gather for a memorial service honoring the late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, September 21, 2025.— Reuters

    – Security was heightened as the memorial drew more than 63,000 attendees.
    – Trump delivered a speech portraying Charlie Kirk as a martyr for conservative values.
    – Friends and supporters believe Kirk died defending political and religious freedoms.

    Some individuals called Charlie Kirk a modern-day martyr. Others view his death as a defining moment for the United States.

    The powerful combination of political and religious themes at the memorial suggested that Kirk’s killing had transformed him into a symbolic figure for conservatives nationwide.

    The event at State Farm Stadium outside Phoenix featured some of the country’s most influential political and religious leaders, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Kirk’s widow Erika, and many others. The event’s scale, emotional charge, and patriotic display surpassed many of Trump’s own campaign rallies last year.

    Yet, the significance of Kirk’s death — after he was shot on a Utah college campus on September 10 — was most starkly demonstrated by the over 63,000 people who traveled great distances to honor and mourn him.

    Cindy Warford, 62, shared that she and her granddaughters, aged 13 and 15, regularly listened to Kirk, who hosted a podcast and spoke at college campuses. She noted the girls had been particularly affected by his death.

    “I really feel like this is this generation’s Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, or even 9/11 — something we’ve lived through,” she said. “It’s hit them really hard because Charlie was speaking to them.”

    Warford referenced historic moments like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the murder of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, and the 2001 terrorist attacks.

    ### Pivotal Moment for U.S. Conservatives

    The religious tone and passionate speeches during the memorial reinforced the idea that Kirk’s shooting was a rallying point for conservatives fighting against the political left.

    Rob Hartz, a business analyst from Arizona in his 50s, described Kirk as inspiring and a martyr for right-wing principles.

    Kirk, 31, led Turning Point USA, an organization dedicated to boosting Republican youth engagement. He was well-known among college students and conservative activists. However, Sunday’s gathering showed he had become an even larger figure for the right in death than he was during his life.

    While most on the political left condemned Kirk’s murder, they didn’t view him as a martyr. Many saw him as a divisive figure, known for controversial statements about Black Americans, LGBTQ communities, Muslims, and immigrants.

    Several speakers contrasted the memorial service with a religious revival, featuring fervent preaching and enthusiastic crowd reactions. Biblical passages were placed on seats, and Christian-themed music was played throughout.

    Supporters, many of whom backed Trump and wore patriotic colors as organizers requested, queued from early morning hours.

    As they entered, attendees saw two enormous screens—45 feet wide and 26 feet tall—showing Kirk kissing his wife Erika. Flanking the screens were two large American flags, each 20 by 30 feet.

    ### Kirk Died for Freedom

    Many attendees expressed the belief that Kirk’s death was for the cause of religious and political liberty.

    “Look around,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “The President of the United States and his entire cabinet are here. I just came back from overseas, and every country sent condolences for his passing.”

    Before political leaders took the stage, the crowd sang and swayed to bands promoting Christian faith, praying for Kirk and America.

    Within the stadium’s hallways, framed photos of Kirk and his widow sat on pedestals. Branded merchandise, including red hats reminiscent of Trump’s MAGA caps with “KIRK” printed on them, was sold.

    Trump and Vance have suggested Kirk’s killing at a Utah college should prompt scrutiny of left-wing groups. A 22-year-old college student has been charged with the murder. Authorities say he told his girlfriend he killed Kirk because he had “had enough of his hate.”

    “Charlie died for his beliefs,” said Adam Pennings, 25, who traveled from Dallas and arrived at 5 a.m. for the memorial. “His movement was always meant to last longer than him, but no one expected it to happen this soon.”

    Antonina Gagliano, 58, traveled from San Diego to pay her respects. She admitted she didn’t know Kirk personally, but her son followed him online.

    “I believe his influence will grow a hundredfold,” she remarked.