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Trump’s Financial Disclosure Shows July Trades in SpaceX as Stock Slumped — Conflict Questions Raised

Trump’s Financial Disclosure Shows July Trades in SpaceX as Stock Slumped — Conflict Questions Raised
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

President Trump’s latest public financial disclosure shows he bought SpaceX shares on July 10 (between $15,001 and $50,000) and sold some on July 17 (between $1,001 and $15,000). The trades occurred as SpaceX’s share price fell about 15% and were part of more than 1,000 transactions listed for July. The White House says independent managers run the portfolio, and the Office of Government Ethics posted the form; reporting ranges prevent precise valuation. Observers say the transactions raise potential conflict-of-interest concerns because SpaceX holds U.S. military contracts.

President Donald Trump’s most recent public financial disclosure reveals previously unreported stock transactions in Elon Musk’s SpaceX during a volatile stretch for the company’s shares. The filings — posted by the Office of Government Ethics and reported by Reuters — list a purchase and a later sale in July amid a significant price drop.

Details of the Trades

The disclosure shows a purchase on July 10 valued between $15,001 and $50,000 and a sale on July 17 valued between $1,001 and $15,000. The president signed the form on September 8. The July trades were among more than 1,000 transactions listed in the filing for that month.

Timing and Market Movement

SpaceX’s share price fell roughly 15% between July 10 and July 17, the same window that included both the purchase and the sale. Reuters also previously reported that the president made SpaceX purchases in June, shortly after the company’s high-profile U.S. offering in June that placed its valuation at about $1.77 trillion.

Who Manages the Portfolio?

The White House has said that independent, third-party financial managers handle the president’s investments. Spokesman Davis Ingle told reporters these firms replicate “recognized indexes, such as the Schwab 1000.” A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the July transactions.

Disclosure Practices and Limits

The Office of Government Ethics made the disclosure form available on its website. Federal disclosure rules allow officials to report asset values in ranges rather than exact dollar amounts; because of that structure, Reuters said it could not immediately determine the precise size of Trump’s SpaceX holdings.

Why This Matters

SpaceX holds U.S. military contracts and often needs approvals or decisions from federal agencies. Observers say the disclosed trades underscore questions about potential conflicts of interest when government decisions could affect firms in which a sitting president has reported investments — even when outside managers execute trades.

Bottom line: The filing documents modest July transactions in SpaceX shares during a week when the stock fell sharply and adds to scrutiny over how presidential investments are managed and disclosed.

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