Records released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics show that President Donald Trump quietly bought shares of AI software company Palantir weeks before he publicly praised the stock on his Truth Social platform. Trump purchased between $247,008 and $630,000 worth of Palantir stock in the first three months of 2026, with at least seven purchases totaling as much as $530,000 in March alone.
The records also show that Trump sold as much as $5 million worth of Palantir on February 10, and made several other sales of the stock over about two weeks. In February, he also bought between $1 million and $5 million worth of Nvidia stock, and about a week later, Nvidia expanded its AI deal with Meta Platforms. In the first quarter of 2026, Trump also purchased shares of Apple, Amazon, and Broadcom.
Trump’s Truth Social post about Palantir came while the company’s stock was having its worst week in over a year, reports CNBC. The software selloff had picked up speed amid the Iran war, and the company had drawn criticism from well-known short-seller Michael Burry. Trump’s post read: “Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies!!!”
Trump’s Palantir praise raises serious conflict of interest concerns
The post drew criticism from CNN’s Aaron Blake, who called out Trump for “publicly promoting the business of a donor” during a dip in the company’s stock. Blake wrote on X: “This comes as Palantir stock has struggled of late,” and included a screenshot of Trump’s message, which read: “Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies!!! President DJT.”
The fact that Trump already held a significant position in Palantir stock at the time of the post only deepened the scrutiny. Trump’s spokesperson has maintained that the president has no role in selecting or approving specific investments. However, the OGE records show thousands of transactions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in the early months of 2026, painting a more complex picture of his involvement in the stock market.
Trump has also been vocal about his claims of total military victory over Iran, which provides broader context for Palantir’s growing profile during this period. Palantir’s ties to the Trump administration are well-documented. The company sponsored Trump’s military parade last year, held in June for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, and has been a major beneficiary of the administration’s push for military modernization.
CEO Alex Karp, a strong supporter of the U.S. military, has backed the new administration, despite previously contributing to President Joe Biden’s campaign. Palantir’s AI-driven Maven system has been used to identify targets in the Middle East, including during strikes on Iran that began in late February.
Government clients, including the Pentagon and ICE, account for more than half of the company’s U.S. revenue, making Palantir deeply tied to federal government work. Meanwhile, Trump’s broader foreign policy moves, including his stance on potential Taiwan arms deals, continue to shape the defense sector that Palantir heavily operates in.
According to Mediaite, the company’s closer alignment with the Trump administration has also caused internal unease. In October, Palantir communications chief Lisa Gordon called the company’s direction “concerning” at an event hosted by The Information. Video of her remarks was later removed from the outlet’s YouTube and social media channels, raising further questions about transparency within the company.
Each trade listed in the OGE records is shown as a price range rather than an exact figure, but the sheer number of transactions points to a president who has been very active in financial markets. Critics argue that a sitting president trading individual stocks in companies that are directly tied to government contracts and foreign policy decisions presents a clear and ongoing conflict of interest.
Published: May 16, 2026 01:45 pm