Trump bought up to $5 million in debt issued by SpaceX just days before the White House announced a new space-travel policy

The memorandum was released on Aug. 20, just two days after his accounts purchased senior unsecured bonds in Elon Musk’s space and satellite company.

Trump’s SpaceX move

Trump’s latest financial disclosure shows his accounts purchased between $1 million and $5 million in SpaceX bonds on Aug. 18. The purchase carries a 5.35% interest rate and matures in July 2031 — just one year after Trump plans to reach his space launch and reentry goal.

SpaceX is the largest space-launch company in the world by launch volume, market share and revenue. It’s also a major Pentagon contractor and a NASA launch provider, meaning it will directly benefit from policies aimed at widening the commercial space launch industry.

The president’s purchase of SpaceX bonds is significant not just because of the timing, but because most of his previous purchases have involved buying stocks in companies — not bonds.

A financial advisor who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Washington Post (WP) that it is rare for high-net-worth people to purchase debt to track bond index funds.

SpaceX sold bonds over the summer to help finance its massive AI buildout and the high cost of developing its Starlink satellites. This allowed the company to gain capital without diluting equity after its IPO launch in June.

In a statement to Moneywise, White House spokesman Davis Ingle said there is no conflict of interest in Trump’s transactions and that his stock-and-bond portfolio is “independently managed.”