President Donald Trump made 327 stock purchases on April 8, 2025, one day before he announced a 90-day pause on his “Liberation Day” tariffs, according to details from his financial disclosure.
The purchases were made six days after Trump announced sweeping import tariffs on April 2, which pushed markets lower. The next day, before the market opened, Trump posted on Truth Social, “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!”
Later on April 9, Trump announced a pause in the tariffs. Stocks then rallied, including several large technology companies listed in the disclosure.
Donald Trump Bought Tech Stocks Before Tariff Pause
The disclosure showed that Trump bought shares in several major technology companies on April 8. The purchases included Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
Each of those purchases was listed in a range between $100,001 and $250,000. The exact purchase amounts were not disclosed because federal reports allow assets and transactions to be reported in ranges.
The timing has drawn scrutiny because the purchases came one day before Trump’s tariff pause announcement. That pause helped lift the broader market after several days of selling.
Apple had fallen for four straight trading days before April 9, then rose more than 15% after the tariff pause. Nvidia also rallied sharply after falling the previous day.
Truth Social Posts Add to Questions
On the morning of April 9, Trump posted that it was a good time for companies to move operations to the United States. Minutes before markets opened, he wrote, “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!”
Later that morning, Trump announced the 90-day tariff pause. The announcement reduced market pressure tied to the April 2 tariff rollout.
The posts have become part of the debate over whether Trump’s trading activity created an ethics concern. The disclosure does not state whether Trump personally directed the stock purchases.
Trump has said he does not manage his personal investments directly. He told reporters, “I don’t get involved in my personal... we have funds that run my money.”
White House Denies Conflict Claims
The White House rejected claims that Trump’s financial activity created conflicts of interest. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump held many assets before returning to office.
Kelly said, “All of the President’s assets are held in fully discretionary accounts managed by independent third-party financial institutions.” She added, “There are no conflicts of interest.”
Those comments address the White House position but do not end questions from ethics experts and critics. The issue remains tied to whether a president should hold assets that can move on policy announcements.
The Independent said it contacted the White House for comment. The disclosure has added to wider attention on Trump’s business income during his second term.
Crypto Profits Face Separate Scrutiny
Trump’s financial disclosure also listed large income tied to crypto assets and ventures, adding to questions about presidential business activity and digital asset policy. The filing showed a $636 million payout from Trump’s crypto bets and $799 million in profit from World Liberty Financial.
The review has also widened to the TRUMP memecoin. The New York Times, citing a Nansen report, said nearly 988,905 investors who bought the token had lost money by the end of June 2026. The report said total retail losses reached $3.81 billion, equal to about two out of every three buyers.
Source: X
At press time, the token was trading at $1.76, down 97% from its peak of $75.35. The report said a smaller group of early and more sophisticated traders captured about $4 billion in profits, while most retail buyers recorded losses.
These figures have added to the ethics debate around Trump’s crypto income. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have raised questions about whether elected officials should face tighter limits on crypto holdings, token-linked income, and business ventures tied to digital asset policy.
