Ah, the markets. A bastion of rational thought, predictable reactions, and calm deliberation. Or, if you\u2019ve been paying any attention to the past few years, a chaotic playground where presidential pronouncements, often delivered via social media, can send billions scurrying faster than a startled gazelle. Welcome back to the era of the Trump market, where economic policy is less about spreadsheets and more about spectacle, and the only constant is the delightful unpredictability of it all.<\/p>\n
Just yesterday, September 19, 2025, Wall Street once again proved its remarkable ability to digest a smorgasbord of presidential decrees and still churn out record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average<\/a>, the S&P 500<\/a>, and the NASDAQ Composite<\/a> all closed at fresh all-time records, marking a second consecutive day of such achievements for the broader indices. The tech-heavy NASDAQ, ever the overachiever, led the charge with a 0.7% gain, reaching new heights near 24,626 points, while the S&P 500<\/a> advanced 0.5% to settle around 6,669 points, and the Dow rose 0.3% (approximately 129 points) to close above 46,300 for the first time. This buoyant mood was, as always, attributed to a potent cocktail of a Federal Reserve rate cut (a modest 25 basis points, mind you) and, of course, the ever-unfolding drama of US-China relations.<\/p>\n The latest installment of the geopolitical thriller, “Trump and Xi: A Love-Hate Trade Saga,” saw Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping engaging in a highly anticipated phone call on Friday. The primary plot point? The fate of TikTok. Apparently, “progress” was made on a deal that would see the popular video-sharing app’s US operations transition from Chinese ownership to the warm embrace of American investors. Oracle (ORCL<\/a>), a familiar face in these tech-deal dramas, saw its shares climb 3% on the news, reportedly positioning itself as part of the consortium to take control. One can almost hear the triumphant declarations echoing across Truth Social.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the ongoing US-China trade truce, a delicate dance of economic non-aggression, was extended until November. However, let’s not get carried away; the tariffs remain firmly in place, with US goods from China still facing a 30% tax and Chinese goods entering the US at a breezy 10%. It’s a truce, not a surrender, to the concept of free trade. The market, ever the optimist, took this as a positive sign, contributing to Friday’s record-setting performance.<\/p>\n In a fascinating subplot, Apple (AAPL<\/a>) CEO Tim Cook, a man who presumably has a dedicated team for tariff-related damage control, clarified that the recent price hikes on the new iPhone 17 models are absolutely, positively *not* due to tariffs. This, despite Apple reportedly absorbing a cool $800 million in tariff-related costs in Q3 2025, with projections for a staggering $1.1 billion hit in the current quarter. One must admire the corporate gymnastics. To mitigate these “unrelated” costs, Apple has been diligently shifting its supply chain away from China, a move that has seen India emerge as a significant manufacturing hub. Coincidentally, AAPL<\/a> shares rose more than 3% on Friday as the new iPhone 17 models hit shelves globally. Clearly, consumers are unperturbed by the intricacies of global trade policy or the subtle art of corporate accounting.<\/p>\n And then there’s Fed Governor Stephen Miran, a man whose views on tariffs are as unique as a unicorn at a stock exchange. Miran, a close ally of President Trump, confidently declared that he sees “no evidence whatsoever” that tariffs have contributed to inflation. This, despite the consumer price index rising 2.9% annually in August 2025, the fastest pace since January 2025, with many officials arguing a direct correlation. Miran, ever the contrarian, was the lone dissenter in the Fed’s recent rate cut, advocating for a more aggressive half-point reduction, presumably to combat the inflation that isn’t being caused by tariffs. It\u2019s a bold strategy, Cotton, let\u2019s see if it pays off.<\/p>\n Never one to shy away from a bold policy stroke, President Trump also unveiled a new immigration agenda that sent ripples, or perhaps tremors, through the tech industry. First, the “Gold<\/a> Card” visa program: a glittering opportunity for individuals and corporations willing to pony up $1 million and $2 million respectively for expedited US residency. It\u2019s a literal golden ticket, ensuring that only the wealthiest can experience the American dream, or at least its premium version. Trump, ever the optimist, suggested that as many as a million people might purchase these Gold Cards.<\/p>\n However, the real showstopper was the proclamation imposing a hefty $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications. This is not a typo. A cool hundred grand, a stark increase from the previous $215 lottery fee, designed to “prioritize American workers” and curb “program abuse”. While the administration insists “big tech loves the idea”, the market reaction suggested otherwise. Shares of major IT services companies, heavily reliant on H-1B holders, took a noticeable hit on Friday. Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH<\/a>) dropped 4.7%, Infosys (INFY<\/a>) fell 4.5%, and Accenture (ACN<\/a>) saw a 1.3% decline. Analysts are already wringing their hands over potential talent shortages in critical fields like AI and cybersecurity, predicting a surge in R&D outsourcing to countries with more flexible immigration policies. It seems that while America might be getting “extraordinarily skilled” individuals, it might also be waving goodbye to a significant chunk of its tech workforce, and perhaps, its innovative edge. But hey, at least the fees are high!<\/p>\n In this era of rapid-fire policy announcements, one cannot overlook the President’s preferred medium: Truth Social. From lethal strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels to the intricacies of TikTok deals and the new visa programs, major policy shifts are often first broadcast from the digital pulpit of his own platform. It’s a direct line to the people, bypassing the “fake news” and delivering unfiltered, market-moving content.<\/p>\n Speaking of market-moving, Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT<\/a>), the parent company of Truth Social, continues its own fascinating journey. On Friday, DJT<\/a> closed at $17.44, enjoying a 3.01% bump from the previous day, on a notable volume of 18.8 million shares. This modest daily gain, however, is a mere blip on the radar of its year-to-date performance, which sees the stock down a rather dramatic 48.86%. The company recently announced filings for five “America First” themed Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with Yorkville America Equities, expected to launch later in 2025. Previous forays into the ETF market, such as crypto-themed funds announced in June, actually saw DJT<\/a> shares dip. It seems that even patriotic investment themes and presidential endorsements can’t always guarantee a straight shot to the moon. The market, it turns out, can be a fickle beast, even for a media empire built on truth.<\/p>\n The overarching theme, if one dares to seek such a thing in this administration, is a delightful blend of aggressive posturing, unexpected concessions, and a constant redefinition of what constitutes “winning.” Whether it’s the on-again, off-again trade wars with China, the sudden imposition of exorbitant visa fees, or the launch of new investment vehicles, the market is kept on its toes, perpetually guessing the next move. Analysts, bless their hearts, continue to churn out reports attempting to rationalize the irrational, while investors cling to their screens, hoping to catch the next wave of presidential-induced volatility.<\/p>\n In conclusion, the Trump market remains a testament to the power of personality and the enduring human capacity for both optimism and bewilderment. As long as the tweets fly, the proclamations land, and the policies pivot, there will always be something to talk about, and undoubtedly, some money to be made (and lost) in the glorious, unpredictable chaos.<\/p>\n DISCLAIMER: <\/b> 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.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ah, the markets. A bastion of rational thought, predictable reactions, and calm deliberation. Or, if you\u2019ve been paying any attention […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":50312,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_schema_Article":[],"rank_math_focus_keyword":[],"rank_math_description":[],"financial_data_references":[],"stock_symbols_mentioned":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[4331],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trump-stock-market"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53366\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Art of the Deal, Redux: China Edition<\/h2>\n
Immigration: The Golden Ticket and the $100K Headache<\/h2>\n
Truth Social: The Newswire of the Free World (and its Portfolio)<\/h2>\n
The Perpetual Policy Pivot<\/h2>\n