Ah, the stock market. A bastion of calm, rational decision-making, where every move is meticulously calculated and devoid of emotional whims. Or so one might think, until President Donald Trump decides to grace the financial world with his latest pronouncements. September 16, 2025, proved to be another vintage day in this ongoing spectacle, as markets gyrated to the tune of presidential tweets, lawsuits, and policy pivots that would give even the most seasoned trader whiplash.
The major indices, ever the stoic barometers of economic sentiment, offered a mixed bag. On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) managed a modest 0.1% gain, closing at 45,883.45 points, while the S&P 500 (SPX) jumped 0.5% to an all-time high of 6,615.28 points. Not to be outdone, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) climbed 0.9% to yet another record close of 22,348.75 points. This Monday rally was largely attributed to President Trump’s optimistic remarks regarding U.S.-China trade talks. However, Tuesday saw a slight pullback, with the S&P 500 edging down 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping around 0.2% to 0.3% (approximately 131-137 points), and the Nasdaq Composite remaining largely flat or slipping less than 0.1%. This cautious sentiment prevailed as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s anticipated interest rate decision. Interestingly, Bespoke Investment Group pointed out a peculiar consistency: the S&P 500‘s 10.32% advance 164 sessions into Trump’s second term was almost identical to its 10.37% rise during the same period in his first administration. Predictably unpredictable, indeed.
The TikTok Tango: A Deal, A Deadline, A Dance
The week’s most captivating performance came courtesy of TikTok, the short-video app that has become a geopolitical hot potato. After months of “will-they-won’t-they” drama, President Trump announced on Tuesday that the U.S. and China had finally struck a deal to keep TikTok operating in the United States. This agreement, which involves transferring TikTok’s U.S. assets from its Chinese parent, ByteDance, to American owners, was lauded by Trump as an “upgrade for both countries” that would “preserve tens of billions of dollars in value.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier confirmed a “framework deal” was reached during trade talks in Madrid, with President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected to finalize the details later this week.
The market, ever eager for a clear narrative, reacted with a predictable surge for one key player. Oracle (ORCL), long rumored to be a contender in the TikTok saga, saw its shares jump as much as 5% in premarket trading on Monday following Trump’s tease on Truth Social. By Tuesday morning, Oracle shares were up more than 3% on reports of its likely involvement in the deal. This move comes after Oracle shares had already surged 80% entering Tuesday. Analysts, however, remain cautiously optimistic, with Morningstar noting that the “devil is in the details,” particularly concerning the critical issues of TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and user data control. The deal, expected to close within 30 to 45 days, marks a potential breakthrough in the broader U.S.-China trade war, which has, for months, “unnerved global markets.” One might wonder how many more deadlines President Trump will extend before a “final” deal truly sticks, given the administration’s track record of three previous extensions.
The Fourth Estate Fiasco: A $15 Billion Bill for The Times
Not content with merely shaping international trade, President Trump also turned his attention to domestic affairs, specifically the media. On Monday, he filed a staggering $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times (NYT) and four of its journalists. The lawsuit, announced on Truth Social, accuses the venerable newspaper of a “decades-long pattern… of intentional and malicious defamation” against him, his family, and the “America First Movement.” The sheer audacity of the demand—$15 billion—is particularly noteworthy, as it significantly exceeds The New York Times Company’s market capitalization, which currently stands at approximately $9.59 billion.
The market’s reaction to this legal broadside was swift, if not entirely surprising. Shares of The New York Times Company (NYT) fell 2.4% in Tuesday’s morning session. The company, for its part, wasted no time in dismissing the suit, with a spokesperson stating it “has no merit” and is merely “an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting.” Analysts echoed this sentiment, with some characterizing it as “presidential lawfare” and an “alarming escalation” designed to intimidate media organizations. This marks the fourth multibillion-dollar lawsuit Trump has filed against media companies since his return to office, suggesting a rather consistent strategy. The lawsuit also claims that the NYT‘s coverage harmed the stock price of Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social. For those keeping score, Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), the SPAC associated with Truth Social, was trading at $16.94 in pre-market on Tuesday, up a modest 0.12% from its previous close. Evidently, the market is still processing the alleged “significant harm.”
Earnings Reports: A Semi-Annual Affair?
In a move that sent ripples through the corporate governance community, President Trump took to Truth Social to propose a radical shift in corporate reporting. He suggested that U.S. companies should no longer be “forced to ‘Report’ on a quarterly basis,” but rather on a “Six (6) Month Basis.” His rationale? It would “save money, and allow managers to focus on properly running their companies.” He even invoked the classic comparison, asking, “Did you ever hear the statement that, ‘China has a 50 to 100 year view on management of a company, whereas we run our companies on a quarterly basis???’ Not good!!!”
This proposal, while not entirely new, has gained traction with the current administration. Analysts at TD Cowen, perhaps with a keen eye on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Chair Paul Atkins, predict a 60% chance that this shift to semi-annual reporting could become a reality. The SEC, which made quarterly reporting mandatory in 1970 to increase transparency after the Penn Central collapse, now faces a potential reversal of decades-old policy. Proponents of quarterly reporting argue it provides investors with more frequent and timely information, enabling better-informed decisions. Conversely, those who align with Trump’s view contend that it fosters “short-termism” at the expense of long-term strategic planning. The United Kingdom, for instance, experimented with quarterly reporting before reverting to a semi-annual schedule, offering a real-world case study for the U.S. to ponder. The SEC is reportedly prioritizing Trump’s proposal, suggesting that the era of quarterly earnings calls might indeed be facing its twilight.
Tariffs: The Ever-Present Threat (or Bargaining Chip)
Beyond the headline-grabbing deals and lawsuits, the specter of tariffs continues to loom over global markets. President Trump has consistently used tariffs as a tool of foreign policy, recently threatening China and urging NATO countries to impose steep duties of 50-100% on Chinese goods. [Trump threatens China with tariffs, 44] This aggressive stance is, in part, aimed at pressuring Russia to end the Ukraine war, a rather circuitous route to global peace through economic coercion. [Trump threatens China with tariffs]
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, ever the diplomat in a turbulent landscape, indicated that the Trump administration would hold off on new tariffs on Chinese goods related to Russian oil purchases, but only if European countries “do their share” and impose their own significant duties. This suggests a coordinated, albeit aggressive, approach to global trade policy. Trump has already imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports tied to Russian oil, demonstrating his willingness to act unilaterally. Wall Street, it seems, has grown accustomed to this constant state of flux, with firms preparing for potential market volatility stemming from a Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of tariffs. While previous tariff announcements in April did impact the market, it has since recovered, showcasing a strange resilience to the administration’s trade tactics. Even U.S. retail sales, which rose 0.6% in August, seem to be shrugging off the persistent inflation and cooling labor market, suggesting that tariffs haven’t yet significantly curtailed consumer spending. Or perhaps, consumers are simply too busy trying to keep up with the latest policy pronouncements to notice the rising prices.
The Trump Market: A Study in Controlled Chaos
In conclusion, the markets under President Trump continue to operate in a state of perpetual, high-stakes drama. From the eleventh-hour TikTok deals that send tech stocks soaring, to multi-billion dollar lawsuits that barely register a blip on a media giant’s long-term outlook, and proposals to fundamentally alter corporate reporting, the financial world is rarely dull. Analysts are left to parse through Truth Social posts and presidential press gaggles for clues, while investors ride the waves of policy flip-flops and grand pronouncements. It’s a market where the only constant is change, and the only certainty is that President Trump will always provide the next headline, ensuring that the financial world remains a captivating, if somewhat exhausting, spectacle.
DISCLAIMER: We read Trump’s posts so you don’t have to. This is comedy meets market data, not financial advice. Not political advice either – we just like charts and chaos.
Elana Harper is a seasoned financial editor and market analyst with over a decade of experience covering global equities, economic trends, and corporate earnings. Known for her sharp insights, Elana specializes in making complex financial topics accessible to a broad audience. She now serves as the Senior Financial Editor at Stock Market Watch, where she oversees daily market coverage and political commentary.