Money Grab/Profit from his own market-moving decisions
‘Great time to buy’ hours before a market-moving pause
On April 9, 2025, Trump posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” about four hours before pausing most new tariffs for 90 days. The S&P 500 rose about 9.5%. His disclosure later showed his accounts had made 327 stock purchases, up to $12.8 million, the day before.
What happened
On April 2, 2025, Trump announced sweeping tariffs and markets fell for four straight sessions. At 9:37 a.m. ET on April 9 he posted on Truth Social: “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT“. At 1:18 p.m. he announced a 90-day pause on most of the new tariffs. The S&P 500 closed up about 9.5%, recovering roughly $4 trillion in value. Apple rose 15% and Nvidia 19%.
On April 8, the day before the pause, Trump’s accounts made 327 stock purchases. His annual financial disclosure, released June 30, 2026, lists them, including Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia, each in the $100,001 to $250,000 range. Sludge’s analysis of the ranges put the day’s buying at up to $12.8 million. The White House says outside managers run Trump’s investments and he does not speak to them.
The trades were not reported on the 45-day periodic transaction forms federal rules require. The filing notes a late fee was paid. On April 11, 2025, Senators Warren, Schumer, Schiff, Wyden, Kelly and Gallego had asked SEC Chairman Paul Atkins to investigate whether Trump, his cabinet or insiders traded on the pause.
Who benefited
Trump’s accounts bought up to $12.8 million in stocks the day before he announced a reversal that sent the market up about 9.5%. Anyone who acted on his morning post also gained. No profit figure is disclosed.
Who wanted something
The record names no counterparty with business before the government. The relevant party is Trump himself, who set the tariff policy, knew when it would change, and whose accounts were buying the day before. The White House says independent managers made the trades.
Who lost out
Everyone who sold on April 8 or the morning of April 9 did so without knowing a tariff pause was coming. Markets depend on all traders receiving material information at the same time. The public also went 14 months without seeing the trades, which should have been disclosed within 45 days.
Why it matters
Trading on material nonpublic information is illegal for ordinary investors. The president set the policy, knew when it would change, posted a buy signal, and his accounts had made 327 purchases the day before. The SEC he appoints has announced no action. The trades stayed out of public view for more than a year.
Sources MediaiteSludgeU.S. Senate Banking Committee (Democrats) (primary)TIME