On 2/7, CNBC reported that an analysis of US President Donald Trump's annual financial disclosure revealed he executed 327 stock purchase orders on 8/4/2025. This marked his 11th most active buying day last year, exceeding his annual average by more than five times.

This particular day was the final session in a four-day downturn for the US stock market, which followed Trump's 2/4 announcement of plans to impose import tariffs on most trading partners. According to the disclosure, Trump purchased shares in major technology companies, a sector that had experienced a significant sell-off due to this tariff policy.

Trump acquired shares in Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia, with transaction values ranging from 100,001 USD to 250,000 USD for each. All five of these stocks are part of the "Magnificent Seven", a group of large-cap technology stocks widely recognized as a key driver behind the US stock market's record-setting performance in recent years. These stocks subsequently surged when Trump postponed the tariffs on 9/4.

For example, on 8/4, Apple stock dropped 5%, and Nvidia lost over 1%. The very next session, these two stocks reversed course, increasing over 15% and nearly 19% respectively. This marked Apple stock's strongest single-day gain since 1998, while Nvidia recouped nearly one-fifth of its market capitalization in a single session.

US President Donald Trump during a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on 15/6. Photo: AP

These transactions highlight a contentious issue throughout Trump's second term: his significant market influence coupled with substantial personal market-related assets, the largest among US presidents.

On 8/4, the S&P 500 index fell below the 5,000-point mark, nearing bear market territory after losing over 12% in just four sessions. Immediately upon the market open on 9/4, Trump posted on Truth Social: "This is a great time to buy". Hours later, he announced a 90-day tariff postponement for all trading partners except Trung Quoc.

The S&P 500 index surged 9,5% that session, its strongest historical gain. Since then, the index has risen 50%.

Many individual investors observed these developments even before President Trump's disclosure was released. On forums like Reddit, some users boasted about buying in before Trump encouraged investors to purchase stocks. Meanwhile, many others sharply criticized his investment holdings and market influence.

When asked about the President's transactions on 8/4/2025, the White House offered a general comment on his assets. "As President Trump has stated, he possesses significant assets because he was an extremely successful businessman before becoming president. That is also why he was elected", White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNBC.

Kelly asserted there was "no conflict of interest", as all of the President's assets are held in trust accounts, managed by independent third-party financial institutions.

On 1/7, Trump also affirmed to reporters that his transactions are managed by an outside organization. "I am not involved in this, as there are funds managing money for me", he stated.

The stock transactions are just one part of the 927-page disclosure, which revealed Trump's income increased by 2,24 billion USD last year. This includes hundreds of millions of USD from cryptocurrency, over 290 million USD from golf courses and large real estate holdings, and more than 86 million USD from legal settlements. Trump also earned additional income from his branded products, such as watches, sneakers, and fragrances.

Ha Thu (according to CNBC, Reuters)