Trump's 'Great Time to Buy' Post Precedes Tariff Pause, Drawing Manipulation Questions

On April 9, 2025, Trump posted "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!" on Truth Social at 9:37 a.m. Less than four hours later he announced a 90-day pause on most of his new tariffs, and stocks surged, with the S&P 500 closing up about 9.5 percent. Reporting later showed Trump had made hundreds of stock purchases the day before the post.

The sequence prompted lawmakers, including Senator Adam Schiff, to call for investigation into whether the post amounted to market manipulation or improperly used advance knowledge of policy for personal or political gain.

No evidence has been reported that Trump or aides traded on inside information, and no charges followed. The episode nonetheless renewed scrutiny of how closely Trump's personal statements and family financial interests intersect with market-moving policy announcements.