John Smith

August 25, 2026 Open Letter to President Trump from a #MMTLP U.S. Veteran Dear President Trump, @potus @realdonaldtrump I come from generations of service. My grandfather was a pilot who flew in the South Pacific during World War II. My great-uncle served as a captain in the Korean War. My father was Military Police in the Air Force during Vietnam. I have uncles and cousins who served as Fire Captains in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. I followed that tradition as an Army medic during the pre-war build-up to the Gulf War and was honorably discharged after six years of service as a Battalion Aid Station Sergeant. Multiple generations and multiple branches of my family raised our right hands. We took the same oath. We stood ready to give everything for this country. We believed the government we served would have our backs the same way we had theirs. I worked hard after I got out. I built a family. I saved. I invested carefully. Like thousands of other veterans, I put a significant part of my retirement savings into MMTLP. I trusted the American system. I trusted the regulators. I trusted that the markets were fair. Then the government turned its back on us. I purchased Torchlight Energy in January of 2021, so as of this letter, I am 5.5 years into this situation. MMTLP was a dividend that never should have traded. It did anyway—against the company’s wishes. Despite official statements giving the exact final trading day, FINRA issued a sudden U3 halt on December 9, 2022. They froze every investor’s assets, including the shorts, then deleted the ticker. International shareholders lost all confidence in U.S. markets. More shares were sold than the company ever issued. Veteran investments, retirements, and pensions have now been locked for 1,355 days — nearly the length of a standard 4-year enlistment.Among us are at least 130 veterans, 60 of them disabled, 14 still on active duty, and Lt. Col. Bradshaw — the Marine One pilot who flew Presidents Reagan and Bush. Roughly $12 million of veterans’ investments remain frozen. Almost 2,000 FOIAs filed with the SEC. Approval rate under 1%. Heavily redacted records pointing to shadow collusion between the FIF, SEC, FINRA, and Wall Street. On December 22, 2023, 74 bipartisan members of Congress — led by Representatives Ralph Norman and Pete Sessions — demanded answers. There was no follow-up. No resolution. Millions of our tax dollars have been spent trying to hide the share count. My tax dollars are being used to defend the government against me knowing the share count of my own investment. That is how crazy this situation has become. We have countless divorces, broken families, bankrupt small family businesses, healthcare concerns, and ruined lives. Houses can be replaced. Cars can be replaced. Things can be replaced. But life and time cannot. Three and a half years of ruined Christmases, missed birthdays, and opportunity cost — money that could have paid for better healthcare, sent kids to college, or helped a loved one — gone forever. If a Lieutenant Colonel who flew Marine One under two presidents cannot get answers about the investments he made for himself and his family, then how can I? How can the veterans of MMTLP ever be made whole? I voted for President Trump three times. I am as MAGA as they come. But what am I supposed to think when his own company’s stock, $DJT, faces the same collusion and corruption? If he cannot fix the problems at his own house, how will he help us fix this? Failure to regulate U.S. securities markets is not just a financial scandal. The loss of international confidence is a substantial national security risk. Mr. President, the letter is on your desk. Sign it. Demand the true audited, aggregated share count. Release the FOIAs. Show the men and women who wore the uniform — and the world — that this government still has their backs. I’m still standing. We’re still standing. Veterans don’t quit. We adapt, we overcome, and we fight until the mission is complete. Share this message. Demand justice. Because if they can do this to those who served and look the other way for three and a half years, they can do it to anyone. Respectfully, @IRONAPE_MMTLP #VeteransFirst #MMTLPArmy @erictrump @genflynn @SecVetAffairs @SecKennedy @SecWar @SecScottBessent @SusieWiles47 @beardvet @busybrands @CHELLESHOCKEDTM @annvandersteel @monicaonairtalk