Trump-backed Truth Social allegedly owes $1.6m in unpaid hosting fees
Former president Donald Trump's conservative social media safe haven, Truth Social, is being accused by a vendor of nonpayment of upwards of $1 million in hosting fees, according to a report from Fox Business on Thursday.
The allegations come from RightForge, an internet infrastructure company, and one of Truth Social's biggest vendors and creditors. If true, Fox Business reports, it would suggest that the social media platform's finances "are in significant disarray."
RightForge entered into an agreement to host Truth Social on its servers in October 2021 when the platform was created. The social media app was founded after Trump was banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6 riot and is meant to encourage "an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating on the basis of political ideology," according to its website. According to RightForge's website, the company provides "hosting for those who believe in Freedom of Expression and need Big Tech Independence."
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Despite the apparent match made in heaven, anonymous sources at RightForge told Fox Business that Truth Social has "reneged on its contractually obligated monthly payments," and owes the web-hosting service around $1.6 million. The anonymous sources also told Fox Business that Truth Social stopped making payments back in March and that RightForge is planning legal action to recoup the money.
While Trump is listed as a founder of Truth Social, according to the holding company that owns the platform Trump Media and Technology Group, the former president's monetary and day-to-day investment is "negligible to nonexistent." Trump Media's current CEO is former Republican California Rep. Devin Nunes, and he has yet to comment on the allegations, according to Fox Business. RightForge CEO Martin Avila also declined Fox Business' request for comment but didn't deny the accusations either.
On top of potential legal action, the report also states that Truth Social isn't making money either. Fox Business reported that in a May regulatory filing about Truth Social's potential merger with media company Digital World, it was claimed that Truth Social isn't bringing in any revenue, and may not until 2023.
The news of Trump and associates not paying their bills probably isn't a surprise to those who are familiar with his business operations — especially Trump's overt bragging about not paying bills. Back in 2016, USAToday listed 3,500 legal cases in which business owners and workers claimed Trump had failed to pay their invoices. This included employees at his casinos, real estate brokers, even the lawyers he had to represent him in those suits, ironically enough.
Topics Social Media
Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.
In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].
