Trump Bought SpaceX Stock—Here’s Why It’s a Big Deal
A $50,000 bet on SpaceX could cost the president money right now.
President Donald Trump quietly bought between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of SpaceX stock on June 23, just two weeks after the company’s record-setting public debut. The timing was unlucky: SpaceX shares have since fallen from their peak of over $200 in May to about $135, the same price as its initial public offering. That means Trump’s investment might already be worth less than he paid.
The purchase highlights Trump’s financial ties to SpaceX, a company that has seen a surge in government contracts under his administration. A recent *Wall Street Journal* analysis found SpaceX has benefited from Trump’s deregulatory policies and relaxed oversight. The White House says Trump’s stock portfolio is managed by professionals who follow broad market indexes, so it’s not a hands-on bet.
What’s surprising is how many regular investors now own SpaceX stock without realizing it. Before its IPO, SpaceX lobbied index providers to change rules so the company could be added faster to major funds like the Schwab 1000. That means if you have a retirement account or index fund, you might already own a tiny slice of SpaceX.
This isn’t the first time Trump and Elon Musk’s relationship has drawn attention. They’ve had a rocky friendship—Musk once accused Trump of withholding files related to Jeffrey Epstein—but their shared interest in deregulation and space technology seems to keep pulling them together.
- Trump bought $15K–$50K of SpaceX stock two weeks after its IPO, but the shares have dropped since then.
- SpaceX has grown under Trump’s administration due to more government contracts and fewer regulations.
- If you own index funds, you might already be invested in SpaceX without knowing it.
Why It Matters
Trump’s SpaceX bet shows how politics, money, and tech collide—affecting both investors and everyday retirement savers.