Trump’s Net Worth Plummets by $1 Billion as DJT Stock Tumbles
In a significant blow to former President Donald Trump’s financial standing, the stock price of Trump Media and Technology Group Corp. (DJT), the parent company of Truth Social, experienced a sharp decline on Monday. The 21% drop in DJT shares resulted in a staggering $1 billion paper loss for Trump, who holds a substantial stake in the company. This setback comes amidst ongoing financial concerns and the struggles of Truth Social to gain a broad audience.
Stock Volatility and Financial Concerns
Trump Media, which merged with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in late March to make its public-market debut, has experienced volatile market activity since the merger closed last week. The company’s overall market value fell by $1.8 billion to about $6.7 billion on Monday, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
The stock came under pressure after Trump Media revealed new details about its financials in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company reported a loss of $58.2 million last year, compared to $50.5 million the year before, while annual revenue amounted to just $4.1 million, up from $1.5 million.
In the SEC filing, Trump Media expressed “substantial doubt” about its ability to meet its liabilities as they fall due, citing operating losses and negative cash flows from operating activities for the foreseeable future. The company paid about $40 million in interest expenses and $16 million in operating losses in 2023.
Meme Stock Mania and Investor Support
Despite the company’s financial struggles, shares of Trump Media had surged last week, giving the company an $11 billion valuation. Experts warned that the stock was bound to tumble, drawing comparisons to the pandemic-era “meme stock” mania, where share prices of companies like GameStop and AMC soared despite weak fundamentals.
The surge in DJT stock appears to be driven by small-time investors, some of whom may be showing support for the former president amidst his mounting legal troubles and associated expenses. Trump, who holds a nearly 60% ownership stake in the company, stands to earn a billion-dollar windfall when he cashes out his shares, although he is legally barred from doing so for another six months unless the company’s board grants him a waiver.
However, the recent stock plunge has cast doubt on the sustainability of this investor support and the potential for Trump to realize such significant gains from his stake in the company.
Truth Social's Struggles and Limited Audience
Truth Social, which launched in February 2022 after Trump was banned from Twitter (now X) and Facebook following the January 6th Capitol riot, has struggled to gain a broad audience. Estimates from Similarweb show the platform has roughly five million active monthly users, significantly fewer than its rivals.
While Trump’s accounts on Twitter and Facebook have since been reinstated, he continues to use Truth Social as his primary social media platform. The company claims to have about 8.9 million sign-ups but has declined to share commonly disclosed performance metrics that could provide shareholders with a better understanding of its operations.
The limited audience and lack of transparency surrounding Truth Social’s performance have raised concerns about the platform’s ability to generate sufficient revenue and compete effectively in the social media landscape.
Uncertain Future for Trump Media and Truth Social
