Trump Promoted Companies on Truth Social After Buying Stock

A CNN investigation revealed that Donald Trump promoted more than 20 companies on Truth Social within days of purchasing their stocks. Using AI to analyze annual financial disclosures and social media activity, researchers identified at least 44 stock purchases across 21 companies that were followed by complimentary posts from the president.

In several instances, the investigation found that Trump announced government actions shortly after investing in firms. For example, he promised to expedite permits for NVIDIA and praised an advertisement for American Eagle Outfitters after acquiring shares. The report also noted a de-escalation of his feud with Elon Musk following large purchases of Tesla stock.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly and The Trump Organization denied any personal financial gain, stating that trades are managed by independent third-party institutions in discretionary accounts. Government watchdogs and critics argue this constitutes a conflict of interest, noting that Trump did not utilize a blind trust, which allows him to remain aware of his specific holdings.