In a move that blends social media with cutting-edge energy technology, the company behind Donald Trump's Truth Social platform has announced a blockbuster merger plan valued at over $6bn with a nuclear fusion firm.
A Surprising Strategic Shift
Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), the owner of the former US president's relatively small social network, unveiled its intention to combine with TAE Technologies. The stated goal is to address the soaring energy demands of the artificial intelligence revolution. Following the announcement, TMTG's share price jumped by 22% in early trading in New York on Thursday.
The companies revealed that shareholders of each firm would own approximately 50% of the combined entity once the deal finalises, which is anticipated around mid-2026. TMTG declared its ambition to begin constructing "the world's first utility-scale fusion power plant" as soon as next year. The vision is to use this experimental, clean energy source to power the vast datacentres required for advanced AI development.
Merging Media with Energy Ambition
This merger represents a dramatic pivot for TMTG, which has struggled to achieve financial success with Truth Social. For the quarter ending 30 September, the company reported sales of just $927,900, a decline from the $1.01m seen the previous year. Its losses also widened significantly to $54.8m, compared to $19.2m in the same period in 2024.
In contrast, its merger partner, TAE, is backed by industry giants including Alphabet's Google and the oil major Chevron. The company focuses on developing cost-effective next-generation neutral beam systems for fusion energy and related applications. Nuclear fusion, which mimics the process that powers the sun, promises abundant energy without the greenhouse gases or long-lived radioactive waste associated with traditional nuclear fission.
The AI Energy Crunch Drives Unlikely Alliances
Devin Nunes, Chairman and CEO of TMTG, framed the merger as a logical step for national energy and technological supremacy. "Trump Media & Technology Group built uncancellable infrastructure to secure free expression online for Americans," Nunes stated. "Now we're taking a big step forward toward a revolutionary technology that will cement America's global energy dominance for generations."
He argued that fusion power would be the most significant energy breakthrough since the 1950s, with the potential to lower prices, boost supply, ensure AI supremacy, revive manufacturing, and bolster defence. Nunes added that TMTG "brings the capital and public market access to quickly move TAE's proven technology to commercial viability."
This deal underscores a broader trend: the tech industry's insatiable appetite for electricity to run AI datacentres is catalysing a major resurgence in interest around nuclear power. Utilities and tech firms are now exploring everything from restarting shut reactors to contracting power from future small modular reactor projects.
The newly combined company will be led by co-CEOs Devin Nunes and TAE's current CEO and director, Michl Binderbauer. The boards of both companies have already approved the proposed merger.
