President Donald Trump has been vocal about his views on the stock market, often taking credit for its rises but dismissing responsibility for sell-offs. In recent statements, Trump has brushed aside the current market downturn, saying, “You can’t really watch the stock market.” This contrasts with his previous stance, where he frequently highlighted market fluctuations as a reflection of his leadership, even during the Biden administration. Over the past year, while President Joe Biden was in office, Trump claimed credit for market rallies, viewing them as endorsements of his electoral prospects.
However, he blamed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for market dips and predicted catastrophic crashes if the Democrats secured the 2024 presidential election. Trump’s observations on the stock market over the last year include various declarations crediting himself for upward trends. He stated, “THIS IS THE TRUMP STOCK MARKET BECAUSE MY POLLS AGAINST BIDEN ARE SO GOOD THAT INVESTORS ARE PROJECTING THAT I WILL WIN, AND THAT WILL DRIVE THE MARKET UP — EVERYTHING ELSE IS TERRIBLE (WATCH THE MIDDLE EAST!), AND RECORD-SETTING INFLATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN ITS TOLL.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
On the other hand, Trump has shifted blame onto the current administration for economic downturns. He remarked, “The stock market is, in a sense, crashing.
Trump’s claims on stock market
The numbers are very bad. This is Bidenomics. It’s catching up with him.”
Trump also highlighted his belief in the so-called “Trump effect,” touting market optimism during his past and potential future leadership.
He said, “The S&P 500 index has broken above 6,000 points for the first time ever, never even close.”
During a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on March 4, 2025, Trump addressed House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and Vice President JD Vance, reinforcing his stance on tariffs and credit for economic gains. He stated, “Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. There’ll be a little disturbance, but we’re OK with that.
It won’t be much.”
Trump’s rhetoric continues to attribute market successes to his influence, while any downturns are attributed to current administration policies and global uncertainties. Despite the conflicting messages, his commentary on the stock market underscores his ongoing strategy to position himself as the harbinger of economic prosperity.
