politics
Trump Bought Up to $50,000 in SpaceX Shares, Disclosure Shows

President Donald Trump bought between $15,001 and $50,000 worth of SpaceX shares on July 10 and sold between $1,001 and $15,000 worth on July 17, according to a public financial disclosure he signed on September 8, NBC News/Reuters reported.
The purchase and sale were part of more than 1,000 trades Trump made during July, according to the disclosure. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics, which collects the annual and periodic filings required of federal officials, posted the form on its website Tuesday.
What exactly does the disclosure say?
Federal ethics forms report asset values in ranges rather than exact dollar amounts, so Reuters said it could not determine the precise size of Trump's SpaceX position. The filing lists a buy transaction on July 10 in the $15,001-to-$50,000 range and a sell transaction on July 17 in the $1,001-to-$15,000 range.
Is this Trump's first SpaceX trade this year?
No. Reuters had previously reported that Trump bought SpaceX shares in June, meaning the July transactions extend a pattern of trading in the company rather than marking a first-time investment.
Why does the timing matter?
SpaceX priced the largest initial public offering in U.S. history on June 12, a listing that valued the space, satellite and AI company at $1.77 trillion, according to the report. The company is also a U.S. military contractor that routinely seeks approvals from federal agencies, the outlet noted, meaning decisions made by Trump's administration can directly affect a company in which the president now holds shares. SpaceX's founder, Elon Musk, previously served as one of Trump's advisers.
What has the White House said about the trades?
White House spokesman Davis Ingle told Reuters in a prior statement that third-party financial institutions independently manage the president's portfolio and that the holdings replicate "recognized indexes, such as the Schwab 1000." A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the specific July trades, according to the report.
Trump's July Trading, by the Numbers
- SpaceX buy on July 10: $15,001 to $50,000
- SpaceX sell on July 17: $1,001 to $15,000
- Total trades disclosed for July: more than 1,000
- SpaceX IPO valuation, priced June 12: $1.77 trillion
What to Watch
- Whether the Office of Government Ethics or congressional committees request additional detail on the exact trade values, which the range-based disclosure format does not provide.
- Any future SpaceX-related decisions by federal agencies — including military or launch-approval matters — that could draw scrutiny given Trump's disclosed position.
- Whether the White House provides a more detailed response on the July transactions beyond its earlier statement about third-party portfolio management.
- Additional periodic disclosures from Trump covering trading activity after July, which would show whether the buy-sell pattern in SpaceX continues.
The disclosure does not include an explanation from Trump himself for the specific timing of the July purchase and sale, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the rationale behind the trades beyond the White House's general statement on portfolio management.
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Questions
How much SpaceX stock did Trump buy in July?
Between $15,001 and $50,000 on July 10, according to a financial disclosure he signed September 8, per NBC News/Reuters.
Did Trump also sell SpaceX shares in July?
Yes, he sold between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of shares on July 17, the same disclosure shows.
Has Trump traded SpaceX stock before July?
Reuters previously reported Trump also bought SpaceX shares in June, around the time of the company's $1.77 trillion IPO valuation.