US President Donald Trump purchased shares in at least 20 companies just days before posting positive comments about them on his social media platform, Truth Social, according to a review by CNN.
The disclosures have triggered immediate concerns from ethics experts regarding potential conflicts of interest and the alignment of the president's private financial interests with his public endorsements.
Dan Greenberg, a former ethics official, described the pattern as an "ethical catastrophe." The findings underscore the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the intersection of Trump's political influence and his business activities, raising questions about whether his public recommendations were designed to benefit his personal portfolio.
The report highlights a recurring theme in market analysis regarding the "Trump trade" — the tendency for equities to react sharply to the president's public statements.
While the specific companies involved are not detailed in the initial summary, the scale of the activity — spanning over two dozen firms — suggests a systematic approach to leveraging his platform for financial gain.
This development adds to a growing body of evidence cited by critics who argue that Trump has failed to adequately recuse himself from matters affecting his financial holdings.