Trump Says ‘Buy’ Before Market Soars on Tariff Pause \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Donald Trump posted a stock-buying tip on Truth Social just hours before announcing a 90-day pause on tariffs, triggering a massive 9.5% market rally. The S&P 500 reclaimed $4 trillion in value, while Trump-linked stocks surged. Ethics experts raised concerns about the post’s timing and potential market manipulation.
Quick Looks
- Trump posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” at 9:37 a.m. Wednesday.
- Hours later, he paused nearly all tariffs for 90 days.
- S&P 500 surged 9.5%, regaining $4 trillion in lost value.
- Trump Media (DJT) stock soared 22.67%—outpacing broader markets.
- Trump’s personal stake rose by over $400 million in one day.
- Ethics experts warn of potential securities law violations or appearance of manipulation.
- Trump’s post was vague—unclear if he meant the market or his company.
- White House defended the post as a market reassurance, not financial advice.
Deep Look
In a move that combined political power with market influence, President Donald Trump triggered a financial frenzy Wednesday morning with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. At 9:37 a.m., he declared:
“THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT”
At the time of the post, markets were teetering between gains and losses, uncertain amid fears of continued trade pressures. Just under four hours later, Trump announced a 90-day pause on nearly all U.S. tariffs, a dramatic reversal from his earlier hardline stance on global trade.
The result? A Wall Street rally of historic proportions. The S&P 500 closed up 9.5%, reclaiming roughly $4 trillion in market value, or 70% of what it had shed over the previous four trading sessions. The Dow and Nasdaq soared in tandem, and investor confidence surged.
What stood out as even more remarkable—or suspicious to critics—was the prescience of Trump’s post. Was it mere coincidence? Or a coordinated move that blurred the line between presidential messaging and market manipulation?
Stock Tip or Subtle Signal?
The cryptic nature of Trump’s message was made more intriguing by his use of “DJT” at the end of the post—initials he occasionally uses to emphasize authorship. But “DJT” is also the ticker symbol for Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social and a company in which Trump owns a 53% stake, now held in a trust overseen by his son, Donald Trump Jr.
Following the post and tariff announcement, Trump Media stock exploded, gaining 22.67% on the day—more than twice the rate of the broader market rally. That surge alone increased Trump’s personal wealth by $415 million. Trump Media’s rise was particularly notable given the company lost nearly $400 million last year and is largely unrelated to tariff policy.
When asked about the timing of his decision, Trump gave a vague and somewhat contradictory response:
“I would say this morning. Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking about it. Fairly early this morning.”
The White House did not clarify whether Trump had already made the decision when he posted, but spokesman Kush Desai defended the message as part of Trump’s responsibilities:
“It is the responsibility of the President of the United States to reassure the markets and Americans about their economic security in the face of nonstop media fearmongering.”
But critics saw more than reassurance.
Ethics Experts Warn of Market Manipulation
Legal and ethics scholars say the timing of the post and the subsequent market rally raise serious concerns about whether Trump used insider information to influence stock prices—particularly those tied to his own business ventures.
Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer, said the post’s impact on markets, especially on Trump Media stock, was troubling.
“He’s loving this control over markets, but he better be careful,” Painter said. “The people who bought when they saw that post made a lot of money.”
Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University School of Law, said that in any other administration, such a post would likely trigger an investigation into possible market manipulation or abuse of insider knowledge.
“He’s sending the message that he can effectively and with impunity manipulate the market,” she said. “As in: Watch this space for future stock tips.”
Complicating matters further is Trump’s recent praise of other stocks with links to administration figures. Just weeks ago, he held a news conference promoting Tesla, calling its cars “the future of America.” Soon after, his Commerce Secretary echoed the endorsement during a television appearance. On Wednesday, Tesla stock rose sharply, adding $20 billion to Elon Musk’s net worth, narrowly outperforming Trump Media.
Ambiguity Adds to Speculation
The deliberate vagueness of Trump’s original post only fuels suspicion. While he didn’t clarify whether “buy” referred to the broader market or his own company, the market—and investors—responded swiftly to both interpretations.
Though the White House refused to elaborate on the “DJT” reference, past posts show Trump sometimes includes his initials to confirm authorship. But this time, the overlap with his company’s stock symbol raised more questions than it answered.
With Trump Media’s market cap skyrocketing, and retail investors following his every word, analysts say the potential for conflicts of interest has never been higher.
A New Era of Presidential Market Influence?
Whether Trump’s post was strategic market signaling or merely coincidental timing, its impact cannot be denied. It highlights a growing trend in American politics—the direct, unfiltered use of social media by powerful figures to influence not just public opinion, but financial markets.
As Trump eyes a return to the White House and continues to wield outsized influence over both political and economic discourse, ethics watchdogs warn this may be just the beginning of a new frontier in political-financial entanglement—where presidents don’t just set policy, but move markets in real time.
Trump Says ‘Buy’
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