Trump Media offered phone calls from ex-president in exchange for $100M investments -- but found few takers: report

Donald Trump's social media company tried to sell personal phone calls with the former president for $100 million, but found few takers.

Bankers for the fledgling Trump Media & Technology Group approached dozens of investors to pitch a $1 billion deal offering lucrative financial terms after the company had already raised about $300 million through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, and five people briefed on the pitches say potential investors were promised a call from Trump, reported the New York Times.

"Despite the opportunity to invest in a deal whose terms were structured to make a profit for investors," the newspaper reported, "many of Wall Street’s big names passed."

More than a dozen prominent hedge funds and investment firms were afraid to go into business with the twice-impeached one-term president out of fear of alienating their own investors, according to people briefed on the situation.

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Others were concerned about Trump's reputation for bankruptcies, lawsuits and disputes with lenders and partners, and some just didn't see enough details about the company -- which currently has no disclosed revenue or products.

Trump Media raised $293 million in October through an agreement to merge with Digital World, and the company announced it had secured another $1 billion through a "private investment in public equity," or PIPE, deal with three dozen investors, although they must turn over that money if its merger with Digital World closes.