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| Mr Trump was banned from top social media platforms after the 6 January attack by his supporters on the US Capitol in Washington DC amid concerns the then-president would inspire further violence. (Photo by= Getty Images) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Donald Trump's new social media venture says it has raised $1bn (£755m) from investors ahead of a planned stock market listing. BBC said that the Trump Media & Technology Group is working to launch a social media app called Truth Social early next year.
It comes as Mr Trump remains banned from Twitter and Facebook following the attack on the US Capitol in January. "$1bn sends an important message to Big Tech that censorship and political discrimination must end," he said. "As our balance sheet expands, Trump Media & Technology Group will be in a stronger position to fight back against the tyranny of Big Tech."
Mr Trump announced plans to launch Truth Social earlier this year, saying it would allow conversation "without discrimination on the basis of political ideology".
The Trump Media & Technology Group has partnered with Digital World Acquisition, a blank-check acquisition firm, on the venture. On Saturday, they said they had raised the $1bn from "a diverse group of institutional investors" without revealing who they were. According to reports, the social media venture is now valued at almost $4bn. It underscores the former US president's ability to attract strong financial backing despite the controversy surrounding his time in charge.
