Senator Warren Demands Investigation Into Trump’s Tariff Policy Changes

TLDR

• Senator Elizabeth Warren has called for an investigation into whether President Trump manipulated the stock market through his tariff announcements
• Trump posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT” on Truth Social hours before announcing a 90-day tariff pause
• Markets surged 9.5% after the tariff pause announcement, recouping $4 trillion in value
• Critics including former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter questioned if Trump’s social media post violated securities laws
• Warren claims Trump’s tariff policy changes are creating market chaos that benefits Wall Street donors at the expense of working Americans

Senator Elizabeth Warren has demanded a formal investigation into President Donald Trump’s recent actions regarding tariffs and market activity. The Massachusetts Democrat is raising concerns about potential market manipulation following a sequence of events that saw Trump post buying advice on social media just hours before announcing a pause on tariffs that sent markets soaring.

“I’m calling for an investigation into whether President Trump manipulated the market to benefit his Wall Street donors—all while working people and small businesses paid the price,” Warren wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The controversy centers around Trump’s social media activity on Wednesday. At 9:37 a.m., as US stocks were fluctuating, Trump posted on Truth Social: “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.”

Less than four hours after this post, Trump announced a 90-day pause on nearly all tariffs. This announcement had an immediate impact on the market.

By the end of trading that day, the S&P 500 had surged by 9.5%. This rally helped the market recoup around $4 trillion in value.

Timeline of Events

The market recovery represented approximately 70% of the losses sustained over the previous four trading days. These losses had been largely attributed to uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariff policies.

When questioned about whether he knew of the tariff pause before making his social media post, Trump’s response was vague. He claimed the decision had been made “that morning” but added that he had been considering it for “the last few days.”

This timing has raised red flags for many observers. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter questioned whether Trump’s social media message violated securities laws.

“The people who bought when they saw that post made a lot of money,” Painter remarked, suggesting potential insider trading violations according to an AP report.

Warren’s concerns extend beyond the single incident. She has criticized Trump’s overall approach to tariffs as creating chaos in the markets.

Market Impact and Economic Concerns

Warren highlighted how Trump has repeatedly changed tariff rates, particularly pointing to shifts in China’s tariff from 105% to 125% in just one day. She argues this constant changing creates confusion across global stocks and markets.

I’m calling for an investigation into whether President Trump manipulated the market to benefit his Wall Street donors—all while working people and small businesses paid the price.

Did Trump help insiders cash in on his tariff flip-flopping? It sure looks like corruption. pic.twitter.com/5QZ1X5YOpz

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 9, 2025

“No one knows what the tariffs could be tomorrow, next week, or the coming month,” Warren stated, emphasizing the market uncertainty created by these policy shifts.

The economic impact of this uncertainty appears to be spreading. According to Warren, chances of recession and inflation continue to rise while economic indicators such as PMI and JOLTS data weaken.

Stocks and markets have lost concerning value during this period of volatility. Warren directly attributes this market volatility to the “ripple effect” of Trump’s tariff policies.

Congressional Action

Warren is not limiting her response to calls for investigation. She has also appealed to her colleagues in Congress to intervene.

“I’m live on the Senate floor calling on Republicans in Congress to help us put an end to Donald Trump’s tariff chaos,” Warren said in another social media post.

She believes congressional action is necessary regardless of the President’s ultimate intentions. “This chaos will keep hurting the American people. Maybe the President is looking for an exit ramp. Maybe he’s not. Either way, this will only end when Congress reins Trump in,” she stated.

The markets responded positively to Trump’s 90-day pause announcement. However, Warren and other critics continue to question the motives and methods behind the administration’s tariff policy decisions.

Trump’s initial announcement of new tariffs followed by a sudden pause has created what Warren describes as a “cool-down period” before what she fears could be a “final crash.” During this interim period, she claims Trump sent a message to “billionaire buddies” suggesting it was a good time to buy.

This sequence of events is what has prompted Warren’s call for an independent investigation into possible market manipulation and corruption.