U. S. President Donald Trump is entering the fusion power sector with a $6 billion merger of his social media company, Trump Media, and TAE Technologies, which is backed by Google. This announcement followed discussions between industry leaders and the U. S. Energy Department about the need for federal funding in the energy sector. The merger reflects an ambitious effort to capitalize on the power demands from artificial intelligence and data centers, adding to the Trump family’s diverse business interests, including cryptocurrency and real estate.
The merger raised Trump Media’s stock by 35%, following a year where the stock had lost over 70% of its value until the sudden uptick related to the merger news. This deal promises to create a new growth opportunity for Trump Media and a path to public trading for TAE. Shareholders from both companies will hold about 50% of the new entity once the deal finalizes in mid-2026. The merger will combine operations like Truth Social, TAE Power Solutions, and TAE Life Sciences.
Despite significant investment losses, Trump Media, which has consistently lost money since its inception, is aiming for a turnaround through this merger. CEO Devin Nunes expressed optimism about the merger during a brief investor call and shared plans to start building the world’s first utility-scale fusion power plant next year. TAE Technologies has been part of efforts to advance fusion energy, a promising but yet commercially viable power source that has faced numerous challenges.
The agreement includes initial financial support from Trump Media, totaling $200 million in cash upfront and an additional $100 million upon filing a registration. TAE Technologies and other fusion leaders recently engaged with the Energy Department, which is taking steps to encourage fusion advances. The combined company will be led by both Nunes and TAE’s CEO Michl Binderbauer, with plans to swiftly pursue regulatory approvals for the new power plant.
With information from Reuters
