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In a dramatic turn on election night, the stock for former President Donald Trump's media company experienced a halt following a rapid and steep selloff. Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., which operates Truth Social, saw its stock drop 15 percent in just 15 minutes, landing at $34.35 per share on Tuesday afternoon. The volatility comes as voters nationwide cast their ballots in a closely contested race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Earlier in the day, the stock had risen sharply, surging 14 percent to $39.12 before descending back to $34.35. The fluctuations mirror the speculative nature of the stock, with analysts suggesting that the initial rise was driven by hopes of a Trump victory. "Many traders are capitalizing on the sentiment of MAGA supporters, buying in early and selling off by the close," explained Kevin Thompson, founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group.

Despite the election-driven surge, Trump Media has struggled financially in recent months. The company reported less than $1 million in second-quarter revenue, despite a market cap of $7 billion. "Trump Media's declining revenues and lack of profitability make it a risky investment," said Bohdan Kucheriavyi, an analyst from SeekingAlpha. The stock's future seems tied closely to the election, with Kucheriavyi noting that it could appreciate significantly if Trump wins but face a bleak outlook if Harris prevails.

The company's stock, which surged 200 percent over the past month, has been tracking closely with election polls showing a narrowing gap between Trump and Harris. Yet analysts caution investors from seeing it as more than a high-risk bet. "The stock is treated like a meme stock, fluctuating with election sentiment rather than real financial metrics," observed Uttam Dey of SeekingAlpha.

Market analysts like Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, note the bullish behavior of investors regarding Trump's election chances. Beene remarked that similar market behavior was observed in 2016 when many investors anticipated a Clinton victory, only to be surprised by Trump's win. "It's important not to view the stock market like sports betting," Beene cautioned, emphasizing that market performance over the last eight years has surged regardless of whether the president was Republican or Democrat.

As the election continues to unfold, the stock of Trump Media & Technology is likely to remain volatile, reflecting public perception and speculative trading rather than the company's actual financial performance. With Trump owning 114.75 million shares valued at approximately $4.5 billion, the stakes remain high.