President Donald Trump's personal fortune just got a whole lot fatter, and it's all thanks to a stock rebound that's been a long time coming. Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (NASDAQ: DJT) shares have surged nearly 49% from their lowest point in June, and that's translated into a cool $600 million boost to Trump's net worth, according to Forbes.
Let's break down the numbers. DJT stock hit a 52-week low of $6.96 on June 26. Since then, it's been on a tear, and Forbes now pegs Trump's wealth at $6.5 billion. The bulk of that gain comes from his majority stake in Trump Media, which he holds through the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust. His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., serves as trustee and calls the shots on voting and investment decisions.
Trump's ownership in TMTG has slipped from about 57% to 52% since the company went public in 2024, thanks to dilution and corporate moves. But he's still the biggest shareholder by a mile. With roughly 276.9 million shares outstanding, Trump's stake amounts to about 144 million shares. At Thursday's closing price of $10.38, that's worth around $1.49 billion, up from about $1 billion on June 26 when the stock was at $6.96. That's a gain of nearly $492.5 million in shareholder value alone.
Truth API: A New Revenue Stream
So what's behind this sudden surge? The recovery kicked off after the July 17 launch of Truth API, a real-time data service that gives financial and trading firms access to posts from major Truth Social accounts. It's a B2B feed designed for institutional investors who want to keep tabs on Trump's posts as they happen, creating a new data-licensing business for Trump Media.
The service is built for speed, delivering posts within milliseconds, and it's aimed squarely at high-frequency and algorithmic trading firms that thrive on real-time social media data. TMTG Interim CEO Kevin McGurn says Truth API will provide financial firms with real-time access to market-moving Truth Social posts, creating a new recurring revenue stream and adding shareholder value.
The service is set to launch for institutional investors on August 1, and it won't come cheap. According to The Wall Street Journal, it could cost between $60,000 and $100,000 a month. That's a hefty price tag, but for firms that can trade on Trump's posts before the rest of the market catches on, it might be worth every penny.
Critics Cry Foul
Not everyone is thrilled about this new venture. Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as Trump's communications director, has slammed Truth API, alleging it gives hedge funds a trading advantage by providing faster access to Trump-related Truth Social posts, potentially disadvantaging retail investors.
Economist Peter Schiff has also weighed in, criticizing the planned service for letting institutional investors pay for faster access to Trump's market-moving posts. He called it an exploitation of the presidency for personal financial gain. Political commentator Ed Krassenstein went even further, calling the launch "blatant Trump family corruption," saying hedge funds and algorithmic traders could react before retail traders even see the posts.
It's a valid concern. If institutional investors can get Trump's posts milliseconds after they're published, they can trade on that information before the average Joe on Robinhood even gets a notification. That's a pretty significant information asymmetry.
Despite the controversy, the market seems to be betting that Truth API will be a boon for TMTG's bottom line. DJT stock closed 5.38% higher at $10.38 on Thursday, though it's still down 24.62% on a year-to-date basis. Market data shows DJT has a stronger price trend over the short and medium term, but a weaker trend over the long term.
So, is this a sustainable rebound or just a temporary bump? Only time will tell. But for now, Trump's net worth is looking a lot healthier than it did a month ago.
