US President Trump Purchases Over $100 Million in Corporate Bonds Since Inauguration

US President Donald Trump has purchased government bonds worth over $100 million since taking office in January. The transactions, disclosed by the US Office of Government Ethics, include bonds from companies like Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and T-Mobile US. Trump has faced criticism for potential conflicts of interest due to his business dealings, including the ownership of golf courses and cryptocurrencies. His annual financial disclosure statement revealed earnings of over $600 million from various sources, including cryptocurrencies, which increased his net worth to at least $1.6 billion.

US President Donald Trump has purchased government bonds worth over $100 million since taking office in January. The transactions, disclosed by the US Office of Government Ethics, include bonds from companies such as Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and T-Mobile US. Trump has faced criticism for potential conflicts of interest due to his business dealings, including the ownership of golf courses and cryptocurrencies. His annual financial disclosure statement revealed earnings of over $600 million from various sources, including cryptocurrencies, which increased his net worth to at least $1.6 billion [3].

The bond purchases, totaling a little over 690 transactions, include corporate debt in tranches of at least $500,000 each from companies such as Qualcomm, Home Depot, UnitedHealth, and T-Mobile. Trump also bought at least $250,000 of debt from Meta in February. Additionally, he purchased various municipal bonds issued by local governments, airport authorities, gas districts, and school boards [3].

Trump's financial dealings have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. His business interests, currently managed by his sons Don Jr. and Eric Trump, have been scrutinized for their alignment with his political and regulatory decisions. For instance, his administration's pro-crypto policies and regulatory reforms have been criticized for benefiting his personal crypto empire, which includes World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP meme coin [2].

The timing of Trump's crypto accumulation aligns suspiciously with his administration's regulatory reforms. He appointed pro-crypto officials to the SEC, unveiled strategic Bitcoin reserve plans, and signed the GENIUS Act into law. Approximately 20% of current Trump advisors actively hold cryptocurrencies, including Vice President JD Vance and seven Cabinet members with collective holdings exceeding $2 million [2].

Trump's influence on crypto markets has been documented through Truth Social posts that drive price surges. His crypto holdings represent roughly 40% of TMTG's total market capitalization, making it the sixth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder globally, ahead of Tesla and Coinbase [2].

The SEC's delay in reviewing Trump Media & Technology Group's Truth Social Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF until October 8 raises further questions about potential conflicts of interest. The delay comes amid mounting criticism from Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee, who allege that Trump "rewrote the rules, then cashed in on the chaos he helped create" [2].

Trump's financial dealings and the potential conflicts of interest they present are a subject of ongoing scrutiny. The bond purchases and his cryptocurrency holdings are just a few examples of the complex web of business and political interests that surround the former president.

References:
[1] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-confirms-us-government-considering-taking-stake-in-intel-says-the-answer-donald-trump-has-for-this-is-we-should/articleshow/123407975.cms
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/cryptonews:95d6d8695094b:0-sec-delays-truth-social-crypto-etf-decision-amid-trump-financial-interest-scrutiny/
[3] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4487280-trump-bond-purchases