Trump Claims Everyone Profits from Stock Market, but Only One Percent of Americans Benefit

President Donald Trump’s latest annual financial disclosure shows he raked in millions of dollars from crypto-related income and holdings in tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. ‘You know why I made a profit? Because the stock market is up, everyone makes a profit,’ Trump told reporters on Wednesday (1/7/2026). The wealth surge mirrors an impressive first half for US capital markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 8.9%, its best H1 performance since 2021. The S&P 500 rose 9.6%, the Nasdaq Composite jumped 13%, and the Russell 2000 soared nearly 22%, its best showing since 1991. Despite the sharp rally, the gains are not being felt evenly across America. According to a Gallup poll frequently cited by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 38% of US households have no exposure to equities or stocks at all. Stock ownership remains heavily concentrated among the highest earners. Federal Reserve data from the first quarter of 2026 paints a stark picture of inequality. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s, stated that the current stock market surge is hugely beneficial for the wealthy but means almost nothing for the majority of Americans. ‘To be in the top 1%, you need to earn more than US$750,000 (approximately Rp12.2 billion) per year,’ Zandi explained. To address this gap, Bessent and administration supporters are promoting the Trump Accounts programme, scheduled to launch on 4 July. The initiative is designed to provide investment opportunities in stocks for children of all income levels. Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital and a key backer of the initiative, stressed the importance of putting capital into the hands of every child born in the US so they can participate in the growth of major companies like SpaceX and Alphabet. Analysis by consulting firm McKinsey estimates that Trump Accounts could generate long-term asset accumulation of between US$80 billion and over US$900 billion for low-income households over the next decade, though success hinges heavily on sustained participation and contribution patterns.