Fusion has been a Holy Grail for over 70 years. A Trump corporate entity is teaming up with a so-called “pioneering fusion company” to commercialize this technology that has yet to be achieved. Skepticism is warranted. From Patti Johnson at theburningplatform.com:
On December 18, 2025, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, announced a major all-stock merger with TAE Technologies. This pioneering nuclear fusion company is valued at over $6 billion. TMTG CEO Devin Nunes called it a step to “cement America’s global energy dominance for generations.” The new company plans to start building the world’s first utility-scale fusion power plants as early as 2026.[1] Fusion powers the sun. It promises clean energy with no long-term radioactive waste.
What is TAE Technologies?
TAE was founded in 1998. Big investors back it, including Google, Chevron, Goldman Sachs and Charles Schwab. The company has privately raised over $1.3 billion . TAE has built five research reactors. TAE was working on a sixth called “Copernicus.” It first was expected to attain net energy gain around 2025.[2] But they recently decided to skip Copernicus and go straight to a prototype named DaVinci for a commercially scalable reactor. It was scheduled to be developed in the second half of the 2020s and to achieve 3 billion° C and produce fusion energy.
The merger gives TAE access to public markets and up to $300 million in cash from TMTG. TMTG shareholders will own about 50% of the combined company. Executives highlight how fusion can fuel America’s AI leadership. Nunes said it will “lower energy prices” for the nation. The plans focus on TAE’s unique approach using hydrogen-boron fuel. They are separate from other US projects, like Commonwealth Fusion Systems’ SPARC tokamak (targeting first plasma in 2027) or Helion Energy’s prototype (aiming for power by 2028).
