President Donald Trump made 44 stock purchases across 21 companies within a week before posting about them on Truth Social, a review found. The posts mentioned those firms, their executives, or their products. One example involved Nvidia, where Trump purchased between $200,000 and $500,000 of stock days before posting that permits for Nvidia and similar companies would be expedited for U.S. AI supercomputer plans. The timing has raised questions because Trump's financial holdings are not placed in a blind trust. The White House rejected claims of conflict, stating Trump's assets are managed by independent financial institutions. The review also examined posts involving Tesla, U.S. Steel, Apple, Eli Lilly, GE Aerospace, and American Eagle Outfitters.
Trump Purchased Stocks in 21 Companies Before Truth Social Posts
The review found that Trump made at least 44 stock purchases across 21 companies within a week before positive posts. The posts mentioned those firms, their executives, or their products on Truth Social.
One example involved Nvidia. Trump bought between $200,000 and $500,000 of Nvidia stock days before posting about the company's U.S. AI supercomputer plans. In that post, Trump said permits for Nvidia and similar companies would be expedited.
The review also found examples involving Tesla, U.S. Steel, Apple, Eli Lilly, GE Aerospace, and American Eagle Outfitters. Some posts used Trump's own words, while others shared articles, videos, or company remarks.
The review did not find evidence that Trump posted about companies to lift his portfolio. However, the timing has raised questions because the president's financial holdings are not placed in a blind trust.
White House Denies Conflict of Interest Claims
The White House rejected claims that Trump used his office for personal financial gain. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump's assets are held in accounts managed by independent financial institutions.
Kelly said, "There are no conflicts of interest." She added that Trump acts in the public interest and does not direct specific investment decisions.
A Trump Organization spokesperson also said Trump, his family, and the company do not select or approve specific trades. The spokesperson said they receive no advance notice of trading activity.
Trump Family Crypto Ventures Generated $1.4 Billion
Trump's family-linked cryptocurrency ventures have also drawn attention in financial disclosures. The ventures reportedly generated more than $1.4 billion in earnings.
Those earnings were tied mainly to meme coins and projects including World Liberty Financial. The reported total included more than $500 million linked to World Liberty Financial. The disclosures also pointed to more than $600 million tied to associated meme coin activity.
Reports also said Trump's money managers moved much of the crypto-related liquidity into traditional stocks and bonds. That shift reportedly increased the size of his conventional investment portfolio.
A separate analysis found that gains linked to Trump family crypto ventures closely matched losses faced by many retail buyers. Those investors bought into the same digital assets during the market cycle.
Ethics Experts Criticize Lack of Blind Trust
Government ethics experts said Trump's structure differs from many recent presidents. Past presidents with individual stocks or businesses often used blind trusts to avoid knowing exact holdings.
Dan Greenberg, a senior legal fellow at the Cato Institute, called the situation "an ethics disaster." He said discretionary accounts do not provide the same separation as a blind trust.
Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette of the Project on Government Oversight called the mix of presidential posting and stock trading "a case study in presidential conflicts of interest."
The debate comes as lawmakers consider trading restrictions for elected officials. Trump has supported limits on congressional trading, but has criticized efforts that would apply similar rules to presidents and vice presidents.
FAQ
How many stock purchases did Trump make before posting on Truth Social?
Trump made at least 44 stock purchases across 21 companies within a week before posting positively about those firms, their executives, or their products on Truth Social, according to a review.
What did the White House say about Trump's stock purchases?
The White House rejected claims of conflict of interest. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump's assets are held in accounts managed by independent financial institutions and that Trump does not direct specific investment decisions.
How much did Trump's family crypto ventures earn?
Trump's family-linked cryptocurrency ventures reportedly generated more than $1.4 billion in earnings. The total included more than $500 million linked to World Liberty Financial and more than $600 million tied to associated meme coin activity.
