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☆ Trump’s Truth Social merger partner granted key extension to avoid liquidation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Digital World Acquisition Corp., the blank-check firm seeking to merge with former President Donald Trump’s media company, will get another extension to complete its troubled deal. Shareholders voted to grant DWAC (DWAC) another year to pull off its merger with Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, according to an SEC document posted Wednesday. Had shareholders voted against the extension, DWAC would have liquidated, and the social media platform would have to find another financial backer by September 8, 2023. It’s the second time DWAC asked for an extension for closing the deal, the first being in September 2022. In June, federal prosecutors arrested three investors on insider trading charges related to Digital World’s deal with Trump’s media company.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, DWAC, Devin Nunes Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump Media & Technology Group, SEC, TMTG Locations: New York

Digital World needed to get 65% of its roughly 400,000 shareholders to vote to approve the extension. Shares of Digital World were trading at $16.80 on Tuesday, up 1.8% on the day but down from a peak of around $97 a share in March, 2022. Digital World has faced a series of challenges since the October 2021 announcement that it was planning to acquire TMTG. If DWAC's deal with TMTG closes, Trump Media would gain access to more than $1 billion in cash from DWAC's institutional investors, such as hedge funds. According to a Feb. 2, 2021 services agreement, Trump controls 90% of Trump Media.

Persons: Donald Trump, Evelyn Hockstein, Donald Trump's, TMTG, Svea Herbst, Bayliss, Emelia Sithole, Paul Simao Organizations: Fair, REUTERS, U.S, Trump Media & Technology, U.S . Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Trump Media, Trump, Reuters, Svea, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S

☆ Digital World shareholders vote to extend time for deal with Trump media company
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

After a number of delays, enough shareholders agreed to give DWAC up to an additional 12 months to finalize its plans with Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), a person familiar with the vote said on Tuesday. Digital World needed to get 65% of its roughly 400,000 shareholders to vote to approve the extension. Digital World has faced a series of challenges since the October 2021 announcement that it was planning to acquire TMTG. If DWAC's deal with TMTG closes, Trump Media would gain access to more than $1 billion in cash from DWAC's institutional investors, such as hedge funds. According to a Feb. 2, 2021 services agreement, Trump controls 90% of Trump Media.

Persons: Donald Trump's, TMTG Organizations: U.S, Trump Media & Technology, Digital, U.S . Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Trump Media, Trump

☆ Digital World slides as Trump returns to X, formerly Twitter
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 25 (Reuters) - Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC.O), which has agreed to merge with Donald Trump's media company, fell 5% in premarket trading on Friday after the former U.S. president returned to social media platform X. He had over 88 million followers on the platform before the ban, while he had 6.39 million followers on Truth Social as of Friday. Blank-check firm Digital World said in October 2021 it had agreed to merge with TMTG, in a deal that would infuse the Truth Social parent with $1.3 billion in cash. The deal, however, faced scrutiny for months and Digital World settled fraud charges with the U.S. securities regulator earlier this year that had delayed its closing. Digital World earlier this month pushed the deadline for the merger by over three months to Dec. 31, in the latest extension.

Persons: Donald Trump, Evelyn Hockstein, Donald Trump's, Trump, Elon Musk, Chavi Mehta, Sriraj Organizations: Fair, REUTERS, Trump Media & Technology, Twitter, U.S, Capitol, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Iowa, Des Moines , Iowa, U.S, Fulton County Jail, Georgia, Bengaluru

☆ Trump returns to Twitter, now X, to post his mugshot
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The post Thursday raises the question of whether X will become an important channel for Trump's election efforts moving forward. Former President Donald Trump posted to X , formerly Twitter, for the first time since his suspension from the platform, returning to share his mugshot in the Georgia election interference case . He moved to his own social media platform, Truth Social, created by the Trump Media & Technology Group. When billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter, and eventually reversed the permanent ban on Trump, the former president didn't even return to the service, sticking with Truth. Still, Trump posted on Truth after sharing the mugshot on X, "I LOVE TRUTH SOCIAL.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Elon Musk, didn't, Jan Organizations: U.S, Atlanta Hartsfield, Jackson International, U.S . Capitol, Trump Media & Technology Group, Twitter, Trump, CNBC, YouTube Locations: Fulton County, Atlanta , Georgia, Georgia

Trump, who had over 88 million followers when Twitter banned him, posted a photo on Thursday of the mug shot with the words: "ELECTION INTERFERENCE! On Thursday evening, Trump broke from a vow that he would stick exclusively with his new platform Truth Social, the app developed by his Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) startup. Trump had 6.4 million followers on Truth Social as of Thursday. Truth Social has been Trump’s main source of direct communication with his followers since he began posting on the app regularly in May. The former president has used Truth Social to promote his allies, criticize his opponents and defend his reputation amid legal scrutiny from state, congressional and federal investigators.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Elon Musk, ”, Georgia's, Tucker Carlson, TMTG, DWAC, Eric Beech, Costas Pitas, Mike Scarcella, Howard Goller, Stephen Coates Organizations: Twitter, U.S . Capitol, House, U.S, REUTERS Acquire, Fox News, Trump Media & Technology, Trump, Department of Justice, SEC, DWAC, TMTG, U.S . Constitution, Thomson Locations: Fulton County Jail, Georgia, Francisco, U.S ., U.S, California, Pasadena , California

☆ Digital World extends deadline for merger with Donald Trump's media company
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Windham, New Hampshire, U.S., August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Reba SaldanhaAug 9 (Reuters) - Digital World Acquisition (DWAC.O) and former U.S. President Donald Trump's media company on Wednesday extended the deadline for their merger by over three months to Dec. 31, as they work to close the deal that has been delayed by regulatory scrutiny. The move comes weeks after blank-check firm DWAC settled fraud charges with the U.S. securities regulator, clearing some of the uncertainty over its merger with Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) - the parent company of the Truth Social app. The firm, which originally struck a deal to merge with TMTG in October 2021, had in June extended the deadline to Sept. 8. The company in July named Eric Swider as its new CEO after ousting Patrick Orlando in March.

Persons: Donald Trump, Reba Saldanha, Donald Trump's, DWAC, Eric Swider, Patrick Orlando, Jaspreet Singh, Anil D'Silva Organizations: U.S, Republican, REUTERS, Trump Media & Technology, TMTG, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: Windham , New Hampshire, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Trump-linked SPAC surges as fraud settlement lifts hopes for deal completion
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"It was weighing on shares and this gives investors hope that a deal could be completed," said Dennis Dick, a trader and equity market structure analyst at Triple D Trading. If the deal consummates, TMTG will have more than $1 billion of cash in its reach from the SPAC's institutional investors. Earlier, the SPAC had extended the deadline to acquire TMTG by three months to Sept. 8 and named interim boss Eric Swider as its chief executive officer. Trump founded Truth Social months after he was permanently suspended on Twitter and Meta Platforms' (META.O) Facebook and has since amassed more than 5.5 million followers on his conservative social media platform. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta AgarwalOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Dennis Dick, TMTG, DWAC, Eric Swider, Trump, Akash Sriram, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: U.S, Trump Media & Technology, Triple D, SEC, Truth, Twitter, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Trump Media merger partner DWAC soars 50% after SEC fraud settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The social media app will be developed by Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). DWAC is a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that announced plans to merge with Truth Social parent company Trump Media & Technology Group in October 2021. DWAC's SEC settlement dictates that the company must pay an $18 million civil penalty fee if it merges with TMTG and takes the company public. But if the merger does not occur before the Jan. 1, 2025, deadline, and if DWAC returns investors' money, the SEC has agreed to waive the penalty. It is illegal for SPACS to solicit specific merger targets ahead of an actual initial public offering filing.

Persons: Donald Trump's, DWAC, Trump Organizations: Trump Media, Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, Social, Trump Media & Technology Group, SEC, SPACS, Florida, White House, Republican Locations: DWAC, New York, Georgia

☆ SPAC seeking to merge with Trump's media company settles with the SEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that it settled with the blank-check company seeking to merge with former President Donald Trump’s media company. Nearly two years ago, TMTG announced that it would merge with Digital World, which is a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. A SPAC, also known as a blank-check company, is a shell company that debuts on the public market with the stated intent to acquire an existing private company. The SEC said it also found that Digital World failed to disclose that its CEO had a potential conflict of interest with TMTG based on a previous agreement he signed with the company. Last month, federal prosecutors arrested three investors on insider trading charges related to Digital World’s deal with Trump’s media company.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, TMTG, DWAC, “, ”, Gurbir, Grewal Organizations: CNN, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Acquisition, Trump Media & Technology Locations: SEC’s

☆ Trump Media merger partner DWAC settles with SEC over fraud charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 7, 2023. WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that it had settled fraud charges with Digital World Acquisition Corp ., the company that is seeking to take former President Donald Trump's social media venture public. As part of the settlement, DWAC was ordered to pay an $18 million civil penalty fee in the event that it executes a final merger and takes Trump Media and Technology Group public. Shares of DWAC rose 30% in extended trading following the SEC announcement. The fraud charges stem in part from what the SEC says were DWAC's "extensive SPAC merger discussions" with Trump's media company several months before filing paperwork to go public in Sept. 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, DWAC, Patrick Orlando, Trump Organizations: U.S, Republican, WASHINGTON — The Securities, Exchange Commission, Trump Media, Technology Group, SEC, White House Locations: Bluffs , Iowa, Florida, DWAC, New York, Georgia

☆ Exclusive: Head of engineering for Trump’s Truth Social app resigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Helen Coster | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 17 (Reuters) - The head of engineering for the company that operates former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Truth Social app told Reuters on Monday he had resigned, in a blow for the venture. Gleason is the founder of Soapbox Technology, which provides open-source technology for “decentralized” social media platforms that operate on independently-run servers and provide an alternative to Twitter and Facebook. TMTG hired Gleason in January 2022 to adapt Soapbox’s technology for its own needs, eventually using it as the front-end technology - which users see and interact with - for the Truth Social app. Truth Social has struggled to show strong growth in the number of users since its February 2022 launch. Truth Social has an estimated 607,000 monthly users, according to data from Similarweb.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Alex Gleason’s, Gleason, TMTG, Trump, DWAC, Helen Coster, Deepa Babington Organizations: YORK, Trump Media & Technology, Trump, U.S, Capitol, Twitter, Facebook, Social, Similarweb, Justice Department, Securities and Exchange Commission, Thomson

☆ Trump-tied SPAC Digital World names Swider as permanent CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 11 (Reuters) - Digital World Acquisition (DWAC.O) has named Eric Swider as CEO, handing the interim boss reins of the blank-check company that is looking to complete its planned merger with former U.S. President Donald Trump's media and tech company. The move comes nearly four months after the special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) ousted CEO Patrick Orlando, saying that a new management team was needed to tackle "unprecedented headwinds". Swider said on Monday the company's focus will continue to be on completing the merger with TMTG, as it is the "best option for shareholders". DWAC shares were up around 1% in premarket trading. Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eric Swider, Donald Trump's, Patrick Orlando, DWAC, Swider, Jaspreet Singh, Maju Samuel Organizations: U.S, Trump Media & Technology, Justice Department, Securities and Exchange Commission, TMTG, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Trump-tied SPAC reaches agreement with SEC staff over merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 3 (Reuters) - A blank-check firm, which was set to merge with former U.S. President Donald Trump's media company and under regulatory investigation, has reached an agreement with the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, a filing showed on Monday. The special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC.O), said in the filing that the agreement was in principle and not yet definitive, and the terms were subject to the SEC's approval. In October 2021, Trump's newly formed media company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), announced a deal to go public by merging with DWAC. But the SPAC deal was in doubt after the Justice Department and the SEC said they were investigating it. If the SEC approves the settlement, it will enter a cease-and-desist order finding DWAC violated certain antifraud provisions in connection with the proposed merger.

Persons: Donald Trump's, DWAC, Arshreet Singh, Shweta Agarwal Organizations: U.S, Securities and Exchange Commission, Trump Media & Technology, Justice Department, SEC, Thomson

☆ SPAC Tied to Trump’s Media Business Says It Has a Deal With Regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Digital World said that under the tentative settlement with the S.E.C. Federal authorities had been trying to determine if Digital World’s talks with Trump Media before its initial public offering in September 2021 were substantive enough that they should have been disclosed before the SPAC sold shares to the public. In its I.P.O., Digital World raised $300 million from investors. But the long delay in completing the merger prompted a number of hedge funds to pull out of that financing deal. As part of the tentative settlement, which requires approval by S.E.C.

Organizations: Trump Media, Federal

☆ SPAC seeking merger with Trump’s media company agrees to settlement with SEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The terms are not yet definitive, according to an SEC filing, and the final agreement is subject to approval by the commission. If it’s approved, the SEC will enter a cease-and-desist order with the company, finding DWAC violated “antifraud provisions” connected to initial public offering filings. Nearly two years ago, former President Donald Trump’s media group agreed to combine with DWAC to bring the company public through what’s known as a SPAC, or a Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation. TMTG is not a party to the settlement, according to the SEC filing, and did not consent to it. “TMTG may disagree and try to terminate the Merger Agreement,” the SEC filing said.

Persons: New York CNN —, it’s, Donald Trump’s, DWAC, “ DWAC, Matt Egan, Kara Scannell Organizations: New, New York CNN, Corp, Securities and Exchange Commission, Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology Group, SEC Locations: New York

☆ Three charged with insider trading ahead of Trump Media SPAC deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The former US President announced his intention to create a new social media platform after he was banned from Facebook and Twitter last year. WASHINGTON — Three Florida men were charged Thursday in criminal and civil complaints with insider trading of a shell company's stock before it announced plans to merge with a social media firm launched by former President Donald Trump. The men, Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman, and Bruce Garelick, allegedly netted more than $22 million in illicit profits from trading in shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp . The DOJ announced the charges related to the Trump Media proposed merger as part of a string of allegations of illegal trading. is a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that announced plans to merge with Trump Media & Technology Group in October 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump, Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman, Bruce Garelick, Garelick, Trump, TMTG Organizations: Facebook, Twitter, WASHINGTON —, Justice Department, The Securities, Exchange Commission, Rocket, DOJ, Trump Media, Pfizer, Trump Media & Technology Group Locations: WASHINGTON — Three Florida

☆ Trump-related stocks surge after indictment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

It’s not clear why investors sent shares of those companies soaring Friday, although the stocks tend to swing wildly — surging and plummeting — when Trump makes news. And Rumble (RMBL), a conservative video platform that partners with Trump’s Truth Social app, also rose 3%. DWAC announced plans in October 2021 to acquire Trump Media & Technology Group, owner of the Truth Social app. That money is intended to fund the merger with Truth Social owner TMTG. A liquidation would have also threatened the additional $1 billion the Trump media company has raised.

☆ Trump-backed blank-check firm Digital World ousts CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Helen Coster | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 22 (Reuters) - Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC.O), a blank-check firm that is set to merge with former U.S. President Donald Trump's media and technology company, said on Wednesday it had ousted Chief Executive Patrick Orlando. In October 2021, Trump’s newly formed media company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), announced a deal to go public by merging with DWAC. TMTG’s fortunes are inextricably tied to Trump, who is billed by the company as the chief traffic driver. He posted to Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) YouTube and Meta Platforms Inc's (META.O) Facebook on March 17, the same day YouTube restored his channel. Trump’s Twitter account was reinstated in November by the platform's new owner Elon Musk, but Trump has yet to post there.

☆ Trump wants to ditch his deal to post first on Truth Social and return to Twitter, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump wants to end an exclusivity deal with Truth Social and get back on Twitter, Rolling Stone reported. Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes denied an earlier report that Trump wants to make the switch. While Trump has just shy of 5 million followers on Truth Social, he has almost 88 million followers on Twitter. Nonetheless, according to Rolling Stone, a person close to the president said there is "no way" Nunes' statement is true. Among the ideas being floated is for a WWE-style campaign video post, or one comparing himself to Superman, according to Rolling Stone.

The debate comes less than two months after Twitter restored Trump’s account, but Meta’s intention to reevaluate the decision predates Twitter’s reversal. “I can’t think of what that rigorous standard would be that would make this policy be applied fairly, not just to former President Trump, but to any politician.”Is Trump bound to Truth Social? A phone screen displays the Truth Social app in Washington, DC, on February 21, 2022. Trump now has his own rival social media platform, Truth Social, which he launched in February. Despite his desire for a bigger megaphone and aides encouraging him to rejoin Twitter, Trump has said he is committed to Truth Social.

☆ Trump-Tied SPAC DWAC wins shareholder support for one year extension
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DWAC shares jumped on news of the approval and were trading at $23.42, up 8.60% after the meeting was ended. Tuesday's meeting was scheduled after Orlando extended the Nov. 3 meeting to give investors more time. On Sept. 26, DWAC had only 43% of shareholders' approval, according to a document seen by Reuters. At stake is a $1.3 billion cash infusion that Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) which operates Trump's Truth Social app, stands to receive from DWAC. Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss with additional reporting by Echo Wang Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fact Check-Fabricated screenshot of Donald Trump saying he is back on Twitter on Nov. 19
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has not posted on Twitter following the reinstatement of his account on Nov. 19, but social media users are sharing fabricated screenshots of tweets under the @realDonaldTrump account. The image shows a user with the handle @realDonaldTrump with the name “Donald J. Trump” saying on Nov. 19, “It is true that I am back. However, as of this article’s publication, Trump’s reinstated account shows that his last tweet was on Jan. 8, 2021 and has not posted on the @realDonaldTrump account since (twitter.com/realDonaldTrump). There is no evidence of Trump sharing this post on Twitter, as he has not posted on the account after being reinstated on Nov. 19 as of this article’s publication. Read more about our work to fact-check social media posts here .

Slightly over 15 million Twitter users voted in the poll with 51.8% voting in favor of reinstatement. Trump will be reinstated," Musk tweeted. Some users initially reported being unable to follow the reinstated account on Saturday evening. He also said Twitter would not reinstate any banned users until there was a "clear process for doing so." He has used Truth Social to promote his allies, criticize opponents and defend his reputation amid legal scrutiny from state, congressional and federal investigators.

Slightly over 15 million Twitter users voted in the poll with 51.8% voting in favor of reinstatement. But Trump also said Twitter suffered from bots, fake accounts and that the problems it faced were "incredible". He also said Twitter would not reinstate any banned users until there was a "clear process for doing so." Truth Social has been Trump’s main source of direct communication with his followers since he began posting on the app regularly in May. He has used Truth Social to promote his allies, criticize opponents and defend his reputation amid legal scrutiny from state, congressional and federal investigators.

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