In a significant financial move, former President Donald Trump has expanded his investment portfolio by acquiring at least $82 million in corporate and municipal bonds between late August and early October. This activity was revealed through financial disclosures published by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, showing that Trump undertook over 175 transactions during this period.
The details, reported under the Ethics in Government Act, highlight that the total value of the bond purchases could amount to more than $337 million. The assets predominantly consist of bonds issued by a range of municipalities, states, counties, school districts, and other public entities.
Trump’s bond investments are diverse and span several industries, notably targeting sectors that have been positively influenced by his administration’s policies, particularly financial deregulation. Among the corporate bonds acquired, Trump has investments in prominent chipmakers like Broadcom and Qualcomm, major tech firms such as Meta Platforms, as well as leading retailers including Home Depot and CVS Health. Additionally, he has also invested in bonds from major Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
Notably, Trump’s bond purchases also included debt from investment banks, with a significant acquisition made in late August concerning JP Morgan. This comes amid Trump’s request for an investigation into the bank regarding its past connections with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, prompting scrutiny of its conduct.
In a noteworthy acquisition, Trump purchased bonds from Intel after the U.S. government, under his administration’s guidance, acquired a stake in the technology company. While the White House has not yet commented on these disclosures, it is understood that Trump continues to ensure compliance by filing necessary financial reports even as his investment portfolio is managed by a third party.
Since returning to the presidency earlier this year, Trump has reportedly invested over $100 million in bonds. His annual disclosure form submitted in June indicated that despite placing his businesses in a trust overseen by his children, the income from these ventures still benefits him, raising concerns about possible conflicts of interest.
The same annual report noted Trump’s substantial income derived from various sources including cryptocurrencies and golf properties, collectively amounting to over $600 million. According to calculations, Trump’s total reported assets reached at least $1.6 billion, underlining his significant wealth and investment activities amidst his political career.
