New York, New York - Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group soared Tuesday in its debut on the Nasdaq, adding to the former president's expected windfall in the wake of legal problems.

One day after completing its merger with the shell company, Digital World Acquisition, Trump Media was up 36.3% at $68.09 around 11:45 AM EST.

The stock, trading under the "DJT" ticker, which is the initials of the former president and current presidential candidate, rose almost 60% at its peak earlier Tuesday and was halted at one point because of volatility.

"I LOVE TRUTH SOCIAL, I LOVE THE TRUTH!" Trump posted on the social media network.

Donald Trump Trump campaign hit with election complaint over shady legal payments

Trump launched Truth Social after he was kicked off mainstream platforms following the January 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters.

Trump has nearly 80 million shares of the venture, worth more than $5 billion at current pricing.

The listing comes as Trump faces a huge bond payment after a New York court ruled that he, his sons, and their family business lied for years about the value of his assets.

On Monday, a New York appeals court cut the $454 million bond payment that had been due that day to $175 million and gave him 10 extra days to pay.

The nearly half-billion originally owed had raised the possibility that New York authorities would move to seize Trump's assets.

Trump said on Monday that he would post the $175 million "within the 10 days."