Natalie Harp named in lawsuit to stop early access to Trump’s social media posts

Natalie Harp named in lawsuit to stop early access to Trump’s social media posts Plaintiffs are asking a federal judge to stop Trump, Harp, Scavino and others from posting exclusive government announcements on Truth Social, while charging up to $100k for advance access to posts - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Natalie Harp and Dan Scavino, two of President Donald Trump’s top White House aides, are being sued alongside the president over a service that would grant buyers early access to Trump’s Truth Social posts. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in New York federal court by The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, seeks to stop Trump from charging up to $100,000 per month to allow for early access to his Truth Social posts, claiming it violates the First Amendment right to the president’s public announcement. In addition to Trump, Scavino, the White House and the Executive Office of the President, the suit points to Harp, 35, as the “primary” staffer helping Trump post on his social media account. Harp, a longtime devoted aide, reportedly helps Trump compile content to post on Truth Social at all hours, in part by printing it out for the president to physically see, according to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Her role has seen her described as Trump’s “human printer.” The Intercept, a nonprofit digital newsroom, and the Freedom of the Press Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the First Amendment, are asking a federal judge to stop Trump, Harp, Scavino and the White House from posting “official government information exclusively on Truth Social” so long as the $100,000 fee is in place. The plaintiffs also want a federal judge to declare that the act of posting official government information exclusively on Truth Social unconstitutional. Scavino, 50, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, is described in the lawsuit as an aide who “regularly publishes President Trump’s Truth Social posts on his behalf.” He also worked as a Social Media Consultant for Trump Media between 2021 and 2025, according to a financial disclosure report. The White House declined to comment for this story, referring inquiries to Trump Media & Technology Group – though the company is not a defendant in the lawsuit. The Independent has asked the the attorney representing the defendants and Trump Media & Technology Group for comment. In July, Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, announced it would sell a service, known as “Trump API,” allowing users who pay a hefty fee access to “market-moving” messages from Trump. Truth Social is Trump’s primary method of communication with the public. His posts can impact financial markets – for example, Trump’s ceasefire announcements with Iran had a tangible effect on oil markets and his tariff deals, announced last year, moved the stock market. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit say Trump’s “scheme is profoundly corrupt.” “The President stands to gain financially by giving ‘market-moving’ government information to those who are willing and able to pay his personal company,” The Intercept and The Freedom of the Press Foundation wrote in the initial complaint. But in addition, the plaintiffs say the proposed plan would violate the First Amendment, by giving those who pay access to presidential announcements – public information – before others, such as journalists. “This scheme is also unconstitutional,” the lawsuit says. “The First Amendment guarantees equal access to the President’s public announcements”. A judge has not ruled on the plaintiffs’ request yet. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments