Trump Buys $82 Million in Bonds Amid Scrutiny Over Investment Portfolio

U.S. President Donald Trump has significantly expanded his investment in bonds, acquiring over $82 million in corporate and municipal debt between late August and early October, according to financial disclosures released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. The filings, published under the Ethics in Government Act, show Trump executed more than 175 separate bond transactions during this period, with a potential maximum value exceeding $337 million.

The majority of Trump’s purchases were municipal bonds, which are issued by states, counties, school districts, and other public-sector entities. These bonds are often favored by wealthy investors seeking stable, tax-efficient returns, reflecting Trump’s continued focus on low-risk, income-generating assets while maintaining a high-profile public role.

Trump’s corporate bond acquisitions spanned sectors that have benefited under his administration, including technology, semiconductors, consumer retail, and financial services. Notable purchases included bonds from companies such as Broadcom, Qualcomm, Meta Platforms, Home Depot, CVS Health, and major Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase. The filings even show purchases of Intel bonds shortly after the government took an equity stake in the chipmaker.

The president’s financial activity has sparked renewed ethics scrutiny in Washington. Although Trump’s portfolio is managed by a third-party institution, critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest between his private investments and public policy decisions. Earlier disclosures indicated he had purchased over $100 million in bonds since January, with total assets exceeding $1.6 billion from cryptocurrencies, golf courses, licensing deals, and other ventures.

Trump’s bond purchases also had an immediate impact on market sentiment. U.S. equities fell sharply on the Friday prior to the filings’ release, with all three major indices dropping more than 1% at the open before stabilizing later in the session. Financial analysts say the moves underscore the president’s continued influence on both Wall Street and the broader economy, raising questions about the intersection of wealth, policy, and public trust.

source: business day