Donald Trump Jr. recently made headlines by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for GrabAGun, an online firearms retailer. This moment came on July 16, 2025, and marked GrabAGun’s debut following a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
However, the excitement was short-lived. GrabAGun’s stock dropped over 20% in the hours after its launch, despite cheers from the trading floor. Trump Jr. reportedly holds around 300,000 shares in the company, which translates to about 1% of its total shares.
He expressed pride over the IPO, saying it felt like a victory against what he called “woke nonsense.” This reflects a growing trend where brands aligned with conservative values are gaining visibility.
Recent statistics show that public interest in firearms and related businesses is climbing. In a 2022 survey conducted by National Shooting Sports Foundation, over 50% of respondents stated they supported the right to bear arms, indicating a robust market for businesses like GrabAGun.
This merger adds to the trend of political figures backing companies linked to their ideologies. GrabAGun successfully raised $179 million from the deal. Its ticker symbol, PEW, also cleverly echoes gun culture, further appealing to its target audience.
Malik, the CEO of the SPAC involved, is also tied to numerous Republican initiatives and has a history of large donations to the party. Trump Jr.’s role in the deal, alongside his connection with 1789 Capital, emphasizes the continuing intertwining of business and politics.
GrabAGun is not alone in this space. Recently, Trump Media, the parent company of Truth Social, went public in a similar SPAC arrangement. This reflects an ongoing pattern where public offerings are utilized by figures within the Trump sphere to capitalize on their political presence.
As SPACs regain popularity, more companies are expected to enter the market, mirroring Trump’s political and business strategies. For those curious about the evolving dynamics of businesses like GrabAGun, it may be worth keeping an eye on how such ventures adapt in response to both market demands and political climates.
For more context, you can read about the rise of SPACs in recent years through this detailed report on SPACs.
Source link
Trump Media And Technology Group Equty Warrants Exp 25th Mar 2029,Business,Markets,Breaking News: Markets,Eric Trump,SPAC,Omeed Malik,Mergers and acquisitions,Donald J. Trump,Donald Trump, Jr.,Donald Trump,Elections,Breaking News: Politics,Politics,Economy,Digital World Acquisition Corp,Donald Trump, Jr.,Stock markets,Colombier Acquisition Corp II,GrabAGun Digital Holdings Inc,business news