• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Donald Trump

With Trump back on Twitter, can Truth Social survive?

Christiaan Hetzner
By
Christiaan Hetzner
Christiaan Hetzner
Senior Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Christiaan Hetzner
By
Christiaan Hetzner
Christiaan Hetzner
Senior Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 20, 2024, 9:29 AM ET
Donald Trump
Donald Trump owns 60% of Truth Social parent company TMTG, whose shares just hit a fresh all-time low amid his flagging political fortunes.Michael M. Santiago—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Donald Trump’s Truth Social once offered a unique draw: exclusive content from the 45th president himself. That edge is now gone.

Recommended Video

In an effort to boost his campaign, Trump has returned to Twitter—now rebranded as X—to re-engage with voters on the platform that helped him win the presidency.

This shift raises questions about the future of Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), the financially troubled parent company.

TMTG’s viability has been closely linked to Trump’s political profile and his initials, DJT, which also serve as its ticker symbol.

With the loss of exclusive content, Truth Social risks becoming irrelevant in a crowded digital media market.

On Monday, TMTG shares hit a new all-time low, closing down 3.6% at $22.24 since its SPAC merger in March.

This decline precedes the end of a six-month lockup period in late September when Trump could potentially sell his 79 million shares, representing 60% of the outstanding stock.

TMTG could not be reached by Fortune for comment.

Why is Trump back on X?

The decision to return to Twitter/X comes at a critical juncture, as the 78-year-old is losing momentum to younger opponent Kamala Harris. 

With the race neck and neck and a ground campaign he’s outsourced to donors to save costs, he seems to be getting increasingly worried.

Are you better off now than you were when I was president?

Our economy is shattered. Our border has been erased. We're a nation in decline.

Make the American Dream AFFORDABLE again. Make America SAFE again. Make America GREAT Again!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2024

Previously Trump had returned to X only to post his mug shot after owner Elon Musk reversed the ban imposed by legacy Twitter after Trump incited the violent Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Not even after surviving an attempt on his life did he return to post the image of him surrounded by Secret Service agents, blood running down his face and fist raised in the air.

But that was when pollsters had him romping to victory.

Trump can no longer afford to limit his reach to Truth Social, a company that refuses to disclose its own user numbers or the number of likely fake accounts run by bot farms. 

In June, Trump joined ByteDance’s TikTok in June, a controversial move given his antagonistic relationship with China, where its parent is based.

But TikTok is a platform for sharing videos, something he is less familiar with.

His presence there is sporadic, his follower count a fraction that of X, and his viewership has dropped with the lack of fresh and engaging content.

On Aug. 12 he marked his return to X ahead of a two-hour-long discussion with Musk and has been regularly posting ever since.

Heavily loss-making TMTG’s business is getting worse, not better

The future of Truth Social remains uncertain, as its financial outlook was already bleak when Trump exclusively used the platform.

The parent company, TMTG, continues to be a financial drain. Its daily operational costs for R&D, staff, and general expenses are 73 times its revenue. Excluding a $226 million noncash impairment, TMTG posted a $118 million net loss over six months on $1.6 million in revenue.

The situation is deteriorating: TMTG’s operating loss for the first half of the year increased 15-fold compared to last year, and revenue shrank by 30% from $2.3 million.

TMTG acknowledges its poor financials but claims its management focuses on enhancing features and user experience rather than key performance metrics. The company does not track or consider average revenue per user, ad impressions, pricing, or active user accounts in its business decisions.

“TMTG may decide to collect and report such metrics if they are deemed to significantly enhance investors’ understanding of TMTG’s financial condition, cash flows, and other aspects of its financial performance,” it said in its 10-Q filing earlier this month. 

Finally, its independent accounting firm, the Colorado-based BF Borgers, was slapped with a lifetime ban for copy-pasting audits and forging dates. The SEC found it had committed “massive fraud” for over 1,500 regulatory filings over a two-and-a-half-year period to June 2023.

One rival, IAC media group chair Barry Diller, didn’t mince words about the startup in early April: “It’s a scam. Just like everything he’s ever been involved in.”

About the Author
Christiaan Hetzner
By Christiaan HetznerSenior Reporter
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Christiaan Hetzner is a former writer for Fortune, where he covered Europe’s changing business landscape.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Sundar Pichai
SuccessCareers
Google CEO tells graduates to stop obsessing over first jobs because ‘very few moments are make or break’ in life—a lesson he learned in Vegas
By Preston ForeJune 25, 2026
1 hour ago
Softbank CEO dismisses Elon Musk’s extraterrestrial data center idea in favor of maximizing Earth-side construction now: ‘He who strikes first wins’
AITech
Softbank CEO dismisses Elon Musk’s extraterrestrial data center idea in favor of maximizing Earth-side construction now: ‘He who strikes first wins’
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
TIAA CEO Thasunda Brown Ducket
SuccessFortune 500: Titans and Disruptors of Industry
TIAA’s CEO made $26,000 in her first job but still maxed out her 401(k). She has advice for Gen Z
By Emma BurleighJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
VivaTech entrance in Paris.
NewslettersEye on AI
Europe’s AI wake-up call: cybersecurity threats, sovereignty fears, and a growing demand for ROI dominated VivaTech
By Beatrice NolanJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
The Iran war is accelerating the EV transition faster than any climate policy ever did—but it’s still just not that much
EnergyElectric vehicles
The Iran war is accelerating the EV transition faster than any climate policy ever did—but it’s still just not that much
By Catherina GioinoJune 25, 2026
2 hours ago
ll
Economysummer
Deviled eggs, seltzer and a burger you can’t quit: The GLP-1 crowd is (halfway) reinventing the American BBQ
By Nick LichtenbergJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
9 hours ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
Economy
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
22 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.