A planned merger between Trump Media and a nuclear fusion company could give President Trump a direct financial stake in an industry regulated by his own administration.
Trump and nuclear fusion, a $6 billion merger under scrutiny
The expansion of Donald Trump’s business interests into nuclear fusion is raising clear concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Trump Media & Technology Group is planning to merge with a cutting edge firm operating in the nuclear fusion sector, a move that would give the president a substantial personal stake in an industry whose prospects are directly shaped by federal policy and regulation.
From social media to nuclear fusion, a $6 billion bet
TAE Technologies, a company developing advanced nuclear fusion technologies, announced last week its intention to merge with Trump Media. Trump is the largest shareholder of the loss making social media and crypto focused firm that bears his name and is expected to remain a major investor after the transaction.
The combined entity is valued at more than $6 billion. Trump Media is the parent company of Truth Social, the president’s social media platform, which is currently facing significant financial challenges.
An expanding fusion empire and an open conflict of interest
If finalized, the deal would place Trump in direct competition with other energy companies subject to federal financial support and regulatory oversight. The president has already pushed to accelerate safety reviews for new nuclear facilities and to lower acceptable thresholds for radiation exposure.
Companies operating in the nuclear fusion sector are regulated by the federal government, and the technology will require substantial additional funding before becoming commercially viable.
Richard Painter, former chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, told CNN that every president since the Civil War has divested from business interests that conflicted with official duties. Trump, he said, has done the opposite. Anyone other than the president or vice president could face criminal liability for participating in government matters where they hold a known financial interest.
The Supreme Court has granted presidents near total immunity, making Trump’s actions technically legal. This legal shield means the president faces no formal risk in advancing private interests at the expense of the public good, a situation critics argue undermines long standing ethical norms.
Looser radiation limits and faster approvals
The Trump administration is aggressively promoting nuclear power, including fusion, a technology that remains largely unproven at commercial scale, as a response to surging electricity demand in the United States, particularly from data centers. Federal support has come in the form of grants and loans, while executive orders have instructed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to accelerate application reviews.
In May, Trump signed four executive orders aimed at speeding up nuclear plant construction. One requires the NRC to simplify safety rules and approve new reactor applications within 18 months. The administration has also urged the agency to consider lowering acceptable radiation exposure limits, arguing that current standards overemphasize health protection. According to the White House, an excessive focus on minimizing even minor risks ignores the broader harms associated with alternative energy sources, including pollution.
Trump’s net worth jumps after the announcement
Following news of the merger, Trump Media shares surged by 42 percent, increasing the value of Trump’s stake to about $1.7 billion. The stock continued to rise the following day, pushing the value of his holding above $1.8 billion.
