Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the strongest supporters of former President Donald Trump, has said nothing about the status of her investment in Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent firm of the former president’s social media company, Truth Social. While the shares of the company, which list under the ticker symbol DJT, plummet, she is quiet.
Greene and Rep. Larry Bucshon were the only two members of Congress who publicly disclosed that they purchased Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC) stock, the firm that entered into a merger with Trump Media. Greene, whose investment was between $15,000 and $50,000 according to her filing, purchased in October 2021 shortly after the merger announcement. But it appears that Greene’s DWAC shares have vanished without any protest from her disclosure reports.
A follow-up question from NBC News and CNBC about the destiny of her investment prompted a cryptic response from Greene’s office, which said, Congresswoman Greene “holds no stocks at this time as reflected in her financial disclosure.” Additional questions about what happened to her shares were not answered.
In contrast to Greene, Bucshon has asserted through a spokesman that he retains holdings in the now-merged media firm despite its stock having dropped through the floor. Bucshon’s DWAC stock, which once traded between $1,000 and $15,000, remains with him as the share price drops more than 50% since its launch on the Nasdaq.
The disappearance of Greene’s investment is rumored widely. Some ethics lawyers have told her that if the DWAC stock was below $1,000, it wouldn’t even have to be disclosed. Or Greene might have recently sold her stock, something that wouldn’t be required to be reported for up to 45 days. There’s also the chance that the shares didn’t belong to her anymore after her divorce in 2022, so the transfer won’t be subject to reporting as a trade of assets. Greene’s evasive dodges of answers during a confrontation with NBC News have only intensified the mystery aura. “This is a waste of time. I think you can read my reports and see what I own,” she replied, dodging direct answers.
Greene’s missing Trump Media shares illustrate the larger concern over lawmakers’ stock trading. Trades are required to be reported within 45 days by the STOCK Act, but Congress members are not prohibited from selling or owning stock, there is controversy over whether or not they should be permitted to trade stocks altogether, considering their role. Bill to outlaw such trades stalled, and this congressional ethics matter remains in the balance.
Now, the full extent of what occurred with Greene’s Trump Media shares is still unclear, and this has drawn calls for transparency from ethics watchers such as former White House ethics attorney Richard Painter. “She’s got to explain what the heck happened,” Painter argues, summarizing the shadow of doubt over.
