Trump bought SpaceX shares two weeks after blockbuster IPO
By Jakub Antkiewicz
•2026-08-25T08:42:05Z
Trump Acquires Stake in Musk's SpaceX Post-IPO
President Donald Trump acquired as much as $50,000 worth of SpaceX stock on June 23, just two weeks after the aerospace firm's landmark IPO, according to a financial disclosure. The purchase draws attention to the increasingly intertwined relationship between the administration and major technology contractors, particularly given the close, if occasionally fraught, relationship between Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The timing is notable as SpaceX has seen a significant increase in government contracts and has benefited from the administration's deregulatory agenda.
Investment Details and Market Performance
The disclosure does not specify the exact price Trump paid, but SpaceX shares were trading in the mid-$150 range on the day of the purchase. This was considerably below the post-IPO high of over $200 but still above the initial offering price. With the stock closing at $135 on Monday, the president's investment may currently be at a loss.
- Investment Amount: Up to $50,000
- Purchase Date: June 23
- Share Price on Purchase Date: Mid-$150 range
- IPO Price: $135
Index Inclusion and Political Optics
A White House spokesman indicated that the president’s portfolio is managed by third-party institutions replicating indexes such as the Schwab 1000. This context is critical, as SpaceX reportedly lobbied popular indexes to amend their rules for faster inclusion following its IPO. This strategic move means many investors, potentially including the President via managed funds, may now own SpaceX stock passively, complicating the optics of direct investment in a key government partner.
The President's holding in SpaceX, whether actively chosen or acquired through an index fund, underscores the growing entanglement between executive branch personal finances and the performance of major government contractors. This situation creates a complex ethical landscape, particularly for a company that has benefited from administration policy and is led by an associate of the president, Elon Musk.