Trump Bought Over $100 Million in Bonds Since Taking Office, Filings Show
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Aug 20
- 3 min read
Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Left-Leaning
Why: The reporting highlights concerns about Trump’s personal financial gains while serving as president, emphasizing conflicts of interest and precedent-breaking behavior.
Bond Purchases After Inauguration
President Donald Trump has bought at least $103 million worth of corporate and municipal bonds since January, according to new filings from the Office of Government Ethics. The filings, released late Tuesday, reveal that Trump began his purchases one day after his inauguration on January 20. Between January 21 and August 1, Trump executed about 690 transactions.
Unprecedented Presidential Trading
The scale and timing of these investments are unprecedented for a sitting president. Trump now holds financial stakes in companies, hospitals, airports, and municipal entities that could be affected by his administration’s policies.
Typically, U.S. presidents divest or place assets in a blind trust when they take office to avoid conflicts of interest. Trump, however, has continued expanding his portfolio while in office.
Municipal Bonds Across the Country
Trump’s early transactions included municipal bonds tied to local infrastructure projects.
On January 21, he purchased bonds from the New York Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
In the following weeks, he added bonds linked to hospitals, airports, regional development projects, and school districts from Florida to Alaska.
These investments give him financial interests in local governments and agencies, which could also be influenced by federal funding decisions under his administration.
Major Corporate Bonds
The filings also detail purchases of large corporate bonds:
At least $500,000 each in bonds from Qualcomm, T-Mobile USA, Home Depot, and UnitedHealth Group.
At least $250,001 in Meta’s bonds, shortly after CEO Mark Zuckerberg contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.
Bonds worth at least $100,000 each from megabanks Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup.
These companies operate in sectors directly affected by federal regulation, trade policy, and interest rates.
Links to Federal Reserve Decisions
Trump’s bond purchases in major banks come as his administration weighs critical decisions about the Federal Reserve. He has publicly considered replacing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and recently nominated his aide Stephen Miran to the Fed’s board. The Fed plays a decisive role in setting interest rates, which directly affect bank profits — and therefore the value of the bonds Trump holds.
No Record of Sales
The ethics filings show only purchases, with no sales recorded. While the documents list broad value ranges rather than precise amounts, the total investment exceeds $100 million. This suggests Trump has been steadily expanding his bond holdings rather than adjusting or liquidating them.
Trump’s Growing Wealth
Trump’s net worth is estimated at $5.5 billion, according to the Forbes Billionaires List. That figure is up $3.2 billion since 2024. His continued accumulation of assets while in office underscores his break with past presidential precedent. Most modern presidents have separated personal wealth from policymaking to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.
Why It Matters
Trump’s financial activity places him in a position where his policymaking could directly impact his personal wealth.
Investments in banks intersect with his influence over the Federal Reserve.
Municipal bond holdings align with federal funding decisions affecting states and cities.
Corporate bond ownership ties him to companies that may benefit or lose from administration policies.
The filings confirm Trump’s decision to expand, rather than reduce, his direct involvement in financial markets while serving as president.
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