Trump Media & Technology Group goes public with volatile DJT stock, creating massive conflict of interest

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), owner of Truth Social, began publicly trading on the Nasdaq on March 26, 2024, under the ticker symbol DJT (Trump's initials). The stock initially surged to highs above $66 per share, giving Trump a paper gain of approximately $5 billion on his 60% stake, creating an unprecedented conflict of interest for a presidential candidate. The stock experienced extreme volatility, losing about 36% of its value within two weeks and dropping $4 billion in market capitalization. The company disclosed mounting losses in regulatory filings, with continued revenue declines. By mid-April, Trump's stake had fallen to about $2.8 billion as the stock price dropped to around $36. The volatile stock became intertwined with Trump's political fortunes, with price movements correlating to election betting odds throughout 2024, raising concerns about market manipulation and Trump's ability to make policy decisions independent of his personal financial interests in a st...

"The Trump Media stock price has been closely tied to Trump's political fortunes, with shares rising and falling in correlation with his election betting odds." — Analysis from CBS News documenting the relationship between DJT stock performance and Trump's political standing throughout 2024.