How Trump 2.0's stock market stacks up with predecessors

Trump’s Achilles heel is the stock market

While artificial intelligence leaders call for regulation to prevent existential risks, President Donald Trump continues to dismiss AI fears as a hoax to protect a stock market heavily reliant on AI speculation.

Sep 21, 2026

How Trump 2.0's stock market stacks up with predecessors

Data: Financial Modeling Prep ; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals The stock market soared during the first 20 months of President Trump's second term, but slightly underperformed the same period of his first term. Why it matters: Trump considers the stock market to be a proxy for the economy, even though many economists disagree. By the numbers: The S&P 500 rose nearly 27.6% between inauguration day and this past Friday's close, compared to 28.5% during his first term. The gap at 20 months is clos

Sep 20, 2026