President Donald Trump has repeatedly promoted companies or their products on his Truth Social platform shortly after purchasing significant amounts of their stock, according to a CNN analysis. These promotions have sometimes coincided with announcements of government actions that could benefit the firms.
Trump has opted against placing his assets in a blind trust, a practice followed by previous presidents. This allows him to see which stocks are being traded on his behalf, though his accounts are managed by independent third parties and he cannot direct trades. A White House spokesperson stated that all of Trump's assets are held in fully discretionary accounts and denied any conflicts of interest, characterizing the allegations as a repeated political narrative.
However, the timing of some stock transactions and subsequent social media posts has drawn scrutiny. The analysis found that Trump posted about over 20 companies on Truth Social within days of purchasing their shares. In one instance on April 15, 2025, Trump posted about "very big and exciting news" regarding Nvidia, stating that "All necessary permits will be expedited and quickly delivered." Days earlier, he had reportedly bought between $200,000 and $500,000 of Nvidia stock.
In total, the CNN analysis identified at least 44 stock transactions across 21 companies in the week preceding a complimentary social media post about them. These posts ranged from mentioning the company to sharing articles or CEO comments. The President's 2025 financial disclosure revealed over 21,000 transactions, averaging 57 per day.
Another example cited involved American Eagle Outfitters. On July 31, 2025, Trump reportedly bought between $15,000 and $50,000 of the company's stock. Four days later, he posted praise for the brand's advertising campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, noting the jeans were "flying off the shelves."
California Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman criticized these actions, calling them a "textbook demonstration of corruption" and alleging that Trump profits from the presidency by boosting stocks he owns. Huffman stated that Trump's actions redefine "ethical rock bottom."