USA TODAY US Edition

Truth Social’s future faces questions in wake of $58M loss

- Bailey Schulz Contributi­ng: Jessica Guynn

A new regulatory filing from Donald Trump’s social media company shows an auditor has raised concerns about the company’s future.

Trump Media, the company behind the social media platform Truth Social, went public last week after merging with shell company Digital World Acquisitio­n. The stock’s price has been volatile since then, shooting up as high as $79.38 on its first day of trading March 26 before closing below $50 on Monday.

Experts have said the company is overvalued compared with other social media platforms, thanks in part to investment­s by Trump supporters. Now, a new regulatory filing shows that an independen­t accounting firm is questionin­g the company’s longevity.

In a letter sent to Trump Media’s shareholde­rs and board on March 25 – one day before Trump Media was listed on the Nasdaq – accounting firm BF Borgers CPA PC noted that the company’s operating losses “raise substantia­l doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.”

Trump Media made about $4 million in revenue and lost more than $58 million in 2023, according to the recent filing. Despite the losses, its market capitaliza­tion is currently over $6.5 billion.

The company acknowledg­ed potential “near-term margin pressure” from increased marketing expenses and insurance costs after going public, and said it expects to operate at a loss “for the foreseeabl­e future” as it works to expand its user base.

Truth Social had about 5 million desktop and mobile visitors in February, according to data and analytics company Similarweb. Meanwhile, Facebook has about 3 billion monthly active users.

Trump Media also notes in its filing that the company may be subject to “greater risks” than typical social media platforms because of former President Trump’s involvemen­t. The company highlighte­d potential harassment of advertiser­s and hacking as potential risks.

Trump Media’s “success depends in part on the popularity of our brand and the reputation and popularity of President Trump,” the filing reads. The brand’s value “may diminish if the popularity of President Trump were to suffer.”

Shares closed at $48.66 Monday, down 21.5%.

 ?? SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES ?? Trump Media’s stock price has been as high as $79.38 on its first day of trading on March 26 before closing below $50 on Monday.
SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES Trump Media’s stock price has been as high as $79.38 on its first day of trading on March 26 before closing below $50 on Monday.

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