Investing.com - Trump Media is charging trading firms up to $1.2 million a year for split-second early access to President Trump's Truth Social posts, formalizing a platform that moved oil prices roughly 5% in a single session earlier this week when Trump announced the cancellation of planned Iran strikes.

Trump Media and Technology Group (NASDAQ: DJT) sits at the center of this dynamic, as the company's paid early-access data feed — reported by Axios on August 4 — directly monetizes the president's policy announcements and raises questions from ethics watchdogs about potential insider-trading implications. No formal regulatory response from the SEC or CFTC has been issued. The 5% drop was seen in WTI crude futures (CL1!), which had been elevated on strike-risk premium. A breakdown in Iran talks this week could reverse that move.

The weekend's posts ranged widely. On Sunday, Trump announced that Will Scharf, currently White House staff secretary and a former federal prosecutor, would replace David Warrington as White House Counsel effective September 1. "It is my Great Honor to announce that, effective September 1, Will Scharf will become Assistant to the President and White House Counsel," Trump wrote. Warrington, the post noted, is "going on to the Private Sector." The role does not require Senate confirmation.

On Iran, Trump gave a phone interview to Axios on Sunday in which he described the nuclear negotiations in notably cool terms. "We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money. It will work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game," he said. Trump added that Iran is in "very bad shape" due to a U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had previously indicated talks would resume Monday, though Iran has disputed that characterization, leaving the outcome uncertain. The status of those negotiations matters directly to energy markets: oil's roughly 5% single-session drop earlier in the week, documented by Investing.com, came after a Truth Social post removed the immediate risk of U.S. strikes.

On Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected Trump's 15-point peace plan at a cabinet meeting Sunday, according to Time. "Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said, adding that the IDF "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed." Whether Trump has responded on Truth Social to Netanyahu's rejection remains unclear as of Monday morning ahead of the NYSE open.

On the domestic political front, Trump claimed an "8-1" endorsement record in Tennessee's Friday primary races, then pivoted quickly. After his original pick, Rep. Andy Ogles, lost his primary, Trump turned to Truth Social to give Charlie Hatcher his "complete and total endorsement" for Tennessee's 5th District general election. "Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1, and the 1 was a person who I remained loyal to even though he had virtually no chance of winning," Trump wrote.

A lighter culture-war episode also played out over the weekend. Two Taylor Swift songs used in White House and campaign social media videos were removed after Reuters reported on the unauthorized use. The White House did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Looking ahead, three catalysts stand out. The Iran diplomatic track, with Trump having suggested talks for the week of August 10, will almost certainly surface first on Truth Social before any official readout, sustaining the platform's role as a real-time market signal. On September 1, Scharf takes over as White House Counsel, bringing a different legal profile to the role as the administration navigates ongoing litigation. And approximately by August 24, proposed 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods are set to take effect; Trump's recent posts calling Canada "nasty" have escalated that dispute, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responding publicly.