Eldest Trump Sons May Sell Millions in Stock from Advisory Board Role: SEC Filing

The two eldest sons of former President Donald Trump might soon sell millions of dollars’ worth of stock they received for their short-lived roles on a company’s advisory board, as per a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The filing reveals that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who were part of a five-member advisory board for a SPAC called Digital World Acquisition Corp., were granted a total of 750,000 shares each as compensation for their services. The stock was valued at $10 per share, bringing the total amount received by each son to $7.5 million.

The brothers were appointed to the board in early 2024 and resigned less than two weeks later following public backlash over their involvement. The advisory board positions were seen as an attempt to boost the company’s profile ahead of a planned merger with Trump Media & Technology Group, a company founded by their father.

Despite their short tenure on the advisory board, the Trump sons are now eligible to sell their shares, as the lock-up period for the stock expired on May 3. If they choose to do so, they could potentially make millions of dollars in profit from the sale.

The SEC filing indicates that the brothers have not sold any of their shares as of yet, but it’s unclear when or if they plan to do so. The filing also states that the brothers may choose to donate a portion of the proceeds from the stock sale to charity.

This development has sparked criticism from ethics experts who argue that the Trump sons should not have accepted stock in exchange for their advisory board roles, as it creates potential conflicts of interest and raises questions about their motivations for joining the board in the first place.

However, supporters of the Trump family defend their actions, pointing out that it is not uncommon for individuals to receive stock as compensation for serving on advisory boards. They also argue that the brothers are entitled to sell their shares now that the lock-up period has expired.

It remains to be seen what the Trump sons will decide to do with their shares in Digital World Acquisition Corp. Whether they choose to sell them for a hefty profit or hold onto them for the long term, their involvement with the company has once again thrust the family into the spotlight and reignited debates about the intersection of business, politics, and ethics.