Trump’s decision to pause tariffs and the resulting stock market fluctuations are sparking suspicions: ‘Who is benefiting from this?’

Accusations of market manipulation and insider trading surged after President Donald Trump declared a 90-day hiatus in tariffs, leading to a significant rally in the stock market on Wednesday. Critics, including Democrats, Trump supporters-turned-detractors, and media personalities, insinuated that individuals privy to details of Trump’s tariff announcement and subsequent retraction may have profited from this inside information.

Former South Carolina state lawmaker and commentator Bakari Sellers expressed his skepticism on Twitter, questioning, “So, who in the Trump administration shorted the market and profited off the pain of the American people?” Meanwhile, Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms on Demand, insinuated via social media that certain individuals had capitalized enormously on Trump’s alleged corruption and inadequacies.

Even Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman and now radio host, who had previously been a supporter of Trump before turning against him, suggested that the president might have been complicit in this alleged “corruption.” Walsh’s response was prompted by a social media post from Trump urging people to buy stocks in his company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., which operates Truth Social. The stock of Trump’s company surged by over 18% on Wednesday following this announcement, leading to further suspicions of underhanded dealing.

Journalist Ahmed Baba also joined the chorus of voices calling for investigations into potential market manipulation. He posed questions on social media about trades made by members of the Trump Administration before the tariff decisions were publicly announced. In light of these concerns, Baba raised the crucial query, “Who is profiting from this?”

After days of market turmoil attributed to Trump’s trade policies, the S&P 500 index saw a robust 7.8% surge in afternoon trading. Earlier, concerns over Trump’s trade war and its potential impact on the economy had led to market fluctuation. However, the situation dramatically reversed after Trump’s announcement, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumping by 2,476 points or 6.6% by 1:35 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite increasing by 9%.

The Trump administration’s decision to pause tariffs, except those directed at China, seemed to be a pivotal moment that propelled the stock market to higher levels. Despite the widespread celebrations in financial markets, questions lingered about potential market shenanigans and whether some individuals had exploited insider information for personal gain.

The allegations of insider trading and market manipulation that emerged following Trump’s tariff pause raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about corruption and unethical conduct within the administration. The stock market’s dramatic swings and subsequent surge following the tariff announcement underscored the need for transparency and accountability in financial dealings at the highest levels of government.