Key Takeaways:
- Donald Trump is trying to avoid a lawsuit over Truth Social by claiming presidential immunity.
- The lawsuit was filed by two co-founders, Andy Litinsky and Wes Moss.
- They accuse Trump of trying to reduce their stake in the company and push them out of the IPO.
- Trump’s lawyers argue that state courts shouldn’t handle lawsuits against him during his presidency.
Trump’s Truth Social Battle
President Donald Trump is facing a legal fight over Truth Social, his MAGA-friendly social media platform. Two of the platform’s co-founders, Andy Litinsky and Wes Moss, have sued him. They claim Trump tried to unfairly reduce their stake in the company and push them out of the initial public offering (IPO).
Now, Trump’s lawyers are asking a Delaware judge to dismiss or pause the case. They argue that Trump’s presidential duties protect him from civil lawsuits. This legal defense is called presidential immunity.
“ Presidential immunity is a legal doctrine that shields the president from being sued for actions taken in their official capacity. However, it doesn’t necessarily apply to personal business dealings,” explained one legal expert.
The Lawsuit Explained
Litinsky and Moss, who also appeared on Trump’s reality show The Apprentice, claim they owned an 8.6% stake in Truth Social. They allege that Trump tried to dilute their shares and exclude them from the company’s IPO.
When the case was brought before Delaware Chancery Court Judge Lori, Trump’s legal team pushed back. They argued that state courts should not handle lawsuits against Trump while he’s serving as president.
“Delaware should not open the door to letting Trump’s political opponents tie him up in state-court lawsuits,” said John Reed, one of Trump’s attorneys.
The Plaintiffs Fire Back
Litinsky and Moss are not backing down. Their attorneys argued that Trump is actively filing lawsuits in both state and federal courts without claiming immunity. They accused Trump of trying to use presidential immunity as a way to delay the case.
“Trump is actively litigating claims as a plaintiff in state and federal court without raising presidential immunity,” the attorneys said. “He should not be permitted to use this (non-existent) immunity as both a sword and a shield.”
This legal battle highlights the complexities of presidential immunity and whether it applies to business dealings outside official duties.
Trump’s Stake in Truth Social
Trump owns a 60% stake in Truth Social, a platform that gained popularity among his supporters after he was banned from mainstream social media. The company’s value dropped after its IPO but saw a surge after Trump’s election victory in November 2024.
The lawsuit also names other high-profile defendants, including Donald Trump Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, and former Rep. Devin Nunes, all of whom serve on Truth Social’s board of directors.
The Broader Legal Landscape
Trump’s legal team is fighting this case amid a flurry of other lawsuits. In the first five months of his second term, Trump has been named in at least 14 personal lawsuits. His lawyers argue that state courts should not be used as a tool by political opponents to tie him up in legal battles.
However, Litinsky and Moss’s attorneys argue that Trump cannot selectively use presidential immunity to avoid accountability. “If Trump can sue others in court, he should be held to the same standards when others sue him,” they said.
What’s Next?
The Delaware judge will now decide whether to dismiss or pause the case based on Trump’s immunity claim. If the lawsuit moves forward, it could reveal more details about Trump’s business dealings with Truth Social and whether he allegedly tried to squeeze out the company’s co-founders.
This case adds to the growing list of legal challenges Trump is facing, both in and out of the courtroom. As the legal drama unfolds, one thing is clear: the battle over Truth Social is far from over.