Donald Trump’s social media venture is entering an unexpected new phase after announcing a merger with a nuclear fusion technology company, a move that has surprised both political and financial observers.
Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of the social platform Truth Social, revealed on Thursday that it has agreed to merge with TAE Technologies, a privately held company focused on developing nuclear fusion as a future energy source. The announcement immediately boosted investor interest, sending Trump Media’s shares up roughly 25% in premarket trading.
According to the companies, the transaction will be carried out entirely in stock and places the combined valuation at more than $6 billion. Once finalized, the merger would create one of the first nuclear fusion firms to be publicly traded. Ownership of the new entity would be split evenly, with shareholders from each company holding approximately half.
The deal comes at a challenging time for Trump Media. Its share price has dropped sharply over the past year, and Truth Social has struggled to attract users at the scale achieved by established social media platforms. In response, the company has been seeking new growth paths, including ventures in artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and financial services.
Nuclear fusion, long viewed as a potential breakthrough in clean energy, produces power by fusing hydrogen atoms — the same process that fuels the sun. Scientists have made progress in controlled experiments, but fusion has not yet been deployed commercially. TAE Technologies claims it is closer than most competitors, citing more than two decades of research and the successful operation of multiple experimental reactors.
The company has announced plans to begin building its first utility-scale fusion power plant in 2026, although the final location has not yet been disclosed.
Industry analysts say the merger could give TAE access to much-needed capital. Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities, described TAE as one of the most advanced fusion developers globally, pointing to its long research history and technical breakthroughs. He also suggested that political backing could play a role, given Trump’s influence and interest in domestic energy production.
Energy demand has become a growing concern in the United States, particularly as artificial intelligence drives the rapid expansion of data centers that consume vast amounts of electricity. Nuclear fusion and other advanced energy sources are increasingly being viewed as possible solutions to future supply constraints.
Despite the potential upside, questions remain. Trump Media is not currently profitable, though it does report substantial digital assets, including cryptocurrency holdings and short-term investments totaling more than $2 billion. That figure, however, is small compared with the cash reserves of major technology firms.
There are also political considerations. While the merger could provide TAE with visibility and influence, it could complicate efforts to secure federal funding, regulatory approvals, or government-backed loans due to the company’s association with a polarizing political figure.
Leadership of the merged company will be shared. Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media & Technology Group, is set to become co-chief executive alongside TAE CEO Michl Binderbauer.
Speaking about the deal, Nunes described fusion power as a transformative energy technology that could lower costs, expand supply, strengthen manufacturing, and support national security. He added that access to public markets could help accelerate the commercialization of fusion technology.
Whether the merger marks a turning point for Trump Media, a breakthrough moment for fusion energy, or both, remains to be seen. For now, it represents one of the most unusual pairings of politics, social media, and advanced energy technology in recent years.
