Trump's Big Bet on Fusion Energy: A Risky Move?

Last week, President Donald Trump's net worth got a massive boost when shares of Trump Media & Technology Group soared after announcing a merger with TAE Technologies, a nuclear fusion company. This deal is worth $6 billion, and it's causing quite a stir. The merger is controversial because it creates a big conflict of interest. Trump owns a large part of Trump Media, and if the merger goes through, he'll have a financial stake in a growing energy company. This company's success could be influenced by decisions made by the government that Trump is in charge of. Experts are raising eyebrows. Richard Painter, who was the top ethics official under former President George W. Bush, said this is a clear conflict of interest. He pointed out that every other president since the Civil War has stepped away from business interests that could conflict with their official duties. Trump, however, has done the opposite.The merger would transform Trump Media, the company behind Truth Social, into a venture focused on clean energy and advanced technology. Nuclear fusion is seen as a potential "holy grail" of clean energy because it can generate a lot of power without carbon emissions. However, no private company has yet achieved a fusion reaction that creates more energy than it consumes. The deal needs to be approved by federal regulators, some of whom were nominated by Trump. This raises questions about the fairness of the process. Peter A. Bradford, who previously served on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said it's problematic for the president and his family to have a large stake in a particular energy source. Online reactions to the proposed deal were mostly skeptical. Many people questioned the motives behind the merger and expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the lack of transparency in the process.