Trump Media stock slides again to bring it more than 66% below its peak

NEW YORK, April 16, (AP): The stock price for Donald Trump’s social media company slid again Monday, pushing it more than 66% below its peak set late last month.

Trump Media & Technology Group closed down 18.4% at $26.61 as more of the euphoria that surrounded the stock fades. It’s a sharp comedown since nearing $80 after the owner of

Truth Social merged with a shell company to get its stock trading on the Nasdaq under the symbol “DJT,” for Trump’s initials.

Part of the decline may be due to criticism that the stock price had zoomed way past what skeptics said the moneylosing company is worth, particularly one with tough odds for success. But another part is also likely because of action Trump Media took Monday.

The company filed documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that open the door for the future potential sale of millions of shares. The document, called an S-1, relates to warrants held by investors that can be transformed into shares of stock, as well as shares held by company insiders.

The filing also includes all the shares held by the former president. Trump, though, remains under a “lock-up” deal that largely restricts him from selling his shares for another roughly five months. His son, Donald Trump Jr., who is a director on the board, and CEO Devin Nunes, are also bound by the lock-up.

Typically, all shares of stock held by insiders subject to lock-up deals are included in such filings, according to Jay Ritter, an expert on initial public offerings of stock at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business.

The filing does not necessarily mean any investors are planning to sell their shares, Sarasota, Florida-based Trump Media & Technology Group said in a statement.