In a heated exchange between major market players, Citadel Securities has publicly criticized Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes for his recent letter to Nasdaq Stock Market, where he mentioned Citadel Securities and other companies while warning about possible illegal short sale trading in DJT shares. The response from Citadel Securities was scathing, describing Nunes as a "proverbial loser" trying to deflect blame for his falling stock price.

The spokesperson for Citadel Securities did not hold back in their criticism, stating that Nunes' claims of "naked short selling" causing the decline in stock price were baseless. They further added that if Nunes were an employee of Citadel Securities, they would immediately terminate his employment, as the company holds ability and integrity in high regard.

Interestingly, Ken Griffin, the founder and non-executive chairman of Citadel Securities, has been a major donor to Republican candidates, including Nunes himself. This connection made the spokesperson's comments about Nunes being someone Donald Trump would have fired on "The Apprentice," the former president's reality TV show, all the more pointed.

In response to Citadel Securities' rebuke, a spokeswoman for Trump Media criticized the company, describing it as a "corporate behemoth" known for various offenses, including issues related to naked short selling. The spokesperson emphasized that Citadel Securities is the last company that should lecture others on integrity, particularly due to their track record of allegedly harming retail investors.

Nunes' letter to Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman raised concerns about potential market manipulation of Trump Media's stock. He claimed that brokers had a significant financial incentive to lend non-existent shares to short sellers due to the high premiums they could charge. Nunes also pointed out that four market participants, including Citadel Securities, were responsible for a substantial volume of DJT shares traded.

It should be noted that Trump Media, despite seeing a recent rise in its share price, still trades significantly lower than its debut opening price in March. The company's market capitalization has also suffered a significant drop, losing billions of dollars as a result.

The political backdrop of the individuals involved adds to the intensity of the situation. Nunes, a former Republican congressman, resigned in 2021 to become the CEO of Trump Media when it was privately held. The majority shareholder of Trump Media is none other than Donald Trump himself, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

The ongoing feud between Citadel Securities and Trump Media highlights the complexities and controversies within the financial markets. As the battle continues, investors and regulators will closely monitor developments to ensure the integrity and transparency of trading practices.