FINANCE
Trump's Stock Market Shake-Up
USA, New YorkThu Apr 10 2025
It was a typical Wednesday morning, and the stock market was having a rough time. It was going up and down like a rollercoaster. Then, Donald Trump dropped a hint on his social media platform. He suggested that it was a good time to buy stocks. He wrote, "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY! ! ! " and signed it with his initials, DJT.
Just a few hours later, Trump made a big announcement. He decided to pause nearly all tariffs for 90 days. This news sent the stock market soaring. By the end of the day, the S&P 500 had gained back a huge chunk of the value it had lost in the previous few days. It was a big win for investors who had bought stocks after Trump's post.
Some people started to wonder if Trump knew about the tariff pause before he made his post. If he did, it could raise some serious questions. Trading on insider information is against the law. It's called insider trading, and it's a big no-no in the financial world.
Democrats in the Senate started calling for an investigation. They wanted to know if anyone had profited from Trump's post at the public's expense. They had some tough questions. Did Trump already know about the tariff pause when he made his post? And what did he mean by signing it with his initials, DJT? Was he talking about buying stocks in general, or was he hinting at his own company, Trump Media?
Trump Media's stock price went up by a whopping 22. 67% that day. It was a huge jump, especially for a company that had lost a lot of money the previous year. Trump owns a big chunk of Trump Media, so he stood to gain a lot from the stock price increase. But the ambiguity in his post left many scratching their heads. Was he giving a general stock market tip, or was he promoting his own company?
Another stock that did well that day was Tesla. Trump had praised Tesla in the past, and his commerce secretary had even urged people to buy the stock. Tesla's surge added billions to Elon Musk's fortune. It was a good day for some investors, but it also raised questions about the influence of public figures on the stock market.
Some experts say that in other administrations, Trump's post would have been investigated. But because of his unique position, it might not lead to any action. Instead, it could just attract more viewers to his social media platform. Trump's post sent a clear message: he can influence the market, and he can do it with little consequence.
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questions
What are the potential implications of a public figure using social media to influence financial markets?
Was Trump's post part of a larger plan to enrich his own interests through market manipulation?
How can regulatory bodies ensure transparency and fairness in market movements influenced by public figures?