Tariff Pause: The stock market was drifting indecisively early Wednesday morning until a bold declaration from Donald Trump changed everything. At 9:37 a.m., the former president posted on Truth Social:
“THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT”
By the end of the trading day, the market had soared 9.5%, regaining approximately $4 trillion in value—a recovery of nearly 70% of the losses from the previous four trading days. Just hours after his post, Trump announced a 90-day pause on nearly all tariffs, a move widely celebrated by investors.
A Well-Timed Call—Or Something More?
Trump’s message was undeniably well-timed. But critics, including former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter, warned it may have strayed into legally murky territory.
“He’s loving this, this control over markets, but he better be careful,” Painter said, referencing securities laws against insider trading.
“The people who bought when they saw that post made a lot of money.”
The central question: Did Trump already plan to pause the tariffs before making the post?
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When asked, Trump gave a vague timeline:
“I would say this morning. Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking about it.”
“Fairly early this morning,” he added.
The White House later declined to clarify the exact timing. Instead, spokesman Kush Desai defended Trump’s post as part of presidential duty:
“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.”
The “DJT” Factor and Market Reaction
Adding to the intrigue, Trump signed the post with “DJT”—a moniker he occasionally uses, but also the stock symbol for Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns Truth Social.
The ambiguity left some investors wondering: Was he promoting the market in general, or his own media company?
Regardless, Trump Media stock jumped 22.67%, vastly outpacing the broader market. Despite posting $400 million in losses last year, the company surged in value—boosting Trump’s 53% ownership stake by $415 million in a single day.
Meanwhile, another stock with Trump ties—Tesla—also soared. Trump had recently praised Elon Musk and Tesla in a White House news conference, followed by a TV plug from his commerce secretary. On Wednesday, Tesla’s gains added $20 billion to Musk’s fortune.
Ethical Implications and Legal Blind Spots
Kathleen Clark, a legal ethics expert at Washington University, noted that similar behavior in past administrations would have sparked investigations.
“He’s sending the message that he can effectively and with impunity manipulate the market,” Clark said.
“As in: Watch this space for future stock tips.”
For now, it appears Trump’s economic messaging—whether official or personal—is being interpreted as investment advice by some and as a potential red flag by others.
