Trump's Palantir Stock Purchase and Praise Sparks Ethics Scrutiny

President Donald Trump purchased between $247,000 and $630,000 of Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares during the first quarter of the year, including up to $530,000 in March, according to records from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. The trade was one of roughly 3,700 transactions he made in that period.

In April, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform praising the AI company, writing, “Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war‑fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies!!!” The endorsement came as Palantir’s shares suffered a steep decline, linked to market reactions to the war in Iran.

Democratic lawmakers have called for an investigation into Palantir’s lucrative government contracts and the potential conflict of interest arising from the president’s holdings. The Trump Organization’s spokesperson said the investments are managed by third‑party discretionary accounts with no input from Trump or his family, while a White House spokesman noted the president’s children oversee a trust for his assets.

Palantir, co‑founded by billionaire Peter Thiel—an established Trump donor—has been highlighted for its software used in target identification for U.S. military operations. Trump’s broader portfolio also includes sizable purchases of Nvidia, Workday, Oracle, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple stocks.