Leader Stock Trades: Trump's Oil & Gas Trading During Iran War
President Trump's investment accounts have actively traded oil and natural gas stocks while he oversees the U.S. war with Iran, according to financial disclosure filings through Q2 2026 reported by CBS News on August 27, 2026.
Key Trading Activity
Notable ExxonMobil Sale: On April 7, 2026 — the same day Trump announced a conditional two-week ceasefire with Iran — his accounts sold between $500,000 and $1 million of ExxonMobil (XOM) stock. XOM closed at $163.91 that day and opened down 6.5% at $153.52 on April 8, allowing the trade to avoid the ceasefire-related drop.
Portfolio Composition:
- Trump's oil and gas holdings appreciated by an average of 39% since end-2025
- Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee estimate his energy holdings jumped from $13-46 million at start of 2026 to $17-61 million by mid-August
- Additional Q1 2026 purchases of up to $3.6 million in oil stocks
- Holdings span ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and seven other energy companies
Trading Volume:
- First three months of 2026: approximately 3,600 stock/securities trades
- Total transaction value: $212 million to $695 million
- More than 1,000 transactions in June 2026 alone
Conflict of Interest Concerns
The White House maintains that Trump's portfolio is "independently managed by third-party financial institutions" through "computer-based model portfolios" and that neither Trump nor his family can influence investment decisions. However, ethics watchdogs note that Trump declined to place assets in a blind trust, unlike predecessors George W. Bush (blind trust), Barack Obama (index funds only), and Joe Biden (no individual stocks).
The war has driven oil company profits to $125 billion in H1 2026, with ExxonMobil posting $14.5 billion Q2 profits and Chevron at $12 billion — figures significantly higher than the prior year due to crude price surges from Middle East instability.
Stock Impact Assessment
| Stock | Impact | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| XOM | 🟡 WATCH | Trump's largest energy trade; potential "copy trade" effect if disclosed holdings pattern continues |
| CVX | 🟡 WATCH | Named in disclosure as actively traded; 39% sector appreciation suggests strong momentum |
| COP | 🟡 WATCH | ConocoPhillips actively traded by Trump accounts; energy sector beneficiary of Iran conflict |
Source: CBS News, August 27, 2026: "Trump's oil and gas stock trades continued during Iran war, filings show" — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-oil-gas-stock-trades-iran-war
Confidence Score: 5/5 (official OGE filings, multiple media confirmations)
Category: Leader Stock Trades / Ethics Disclosure
Note: This analysis reports disclosed trading activity and estimated portfolio changes. The White House states trades are executed by independent managers without presidential input.