--- title: Trump Blames Democrat Investigations for Stock Market Declines description: President Trump turned to a new explanation for stock market declines, blaming scrutiny his administration could face from House Democrats. canonical: https://time.com/5452093/donald-trump-blames-democrats-stock-market/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-11-12T17:43:17.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-13T08:06:00.842Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump's Latest Explanation for Stock Market Declines? Democrats' Promise to Investigate Him og:description: Trump tweets have moved financial markets throughout his presidency og:url: https://time.com/5452093/donald-trump-blames-democrats-stock-market/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt64e55e3515e88c66/69893ecc22fb854342e2720a/dow-jones-trump-democrats-stock-market.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5760 og:image:height: 3240 og:image:alt: dow-jones-trump-democrats-stock-market og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump's Latest Explanation for Stock Market Declines? Democrats' Promise to Investigate Him twitter:description: Trump tweets have moved financial markets throughout his presidency twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt64e55e3515e88c66/69893ecc22fb854342e2720a/dow-jones-trump-democrats-stock-market.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # President Trump's Latest Explanation for Stock Market Declines? Democrats' Promise to Investigate Him > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=fb273d64-1523-4284-8f56-ad643578d214&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Redder. Bluer. Trumpier. America Is About to Be Even More Divided [Watch (HLS stream): Redder. Bluer. Trumpier. America Is About to Be Even More Divided](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/2Gr7iLqd.m3u8) (2:54)  _Published 2018-11-09. By the time Nancy Pelosi took the stage at the Hyatt Regency in Washington on Election Day, it was nearly midnight and the panic had passed._ by [Justin Sink / Bloomberg](https://time.com/author/bloomberg/) ## Justin Sink / Bloomberg Contributor Nov 12, 2018 5:43 PM UTC By the time Nancy Pelosi took the stage at the Hyatt Regency in Washington on Election Day, it was nearly midnight and the panic had passed. by [Justin Sink / Bloomberg](https://time.com/author/bloomberg/) ## Justin Sink / Bloomberg Contributor Nov 12, 2018 5:43 PM UTC President Donald Trump turned to a new explanation for stock market declines Monday, blaming scrutiny his administration could face from Democrats who recently won the majority in the House of Representatives. “The prospect of Presidential Harassment by the Dems is causing the Stock Market big headaches!” he tweeted Monday. The justification was the latest offered by a president who frequently touted stock market gains early in his administration as evidence of the nation’s economic health and his success in governing. But declines amid concerns over his trade policies and Federal Reserve tightening have led to turbulent trading in recent months, complicating that message. > [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1062005636488142848) As he tweeted, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were down just more than 1 percent for the day. Both indexes extended declines as the session progressed, with Apple Inc. tumbling on signs of weak iPhone demand and Goldman Sachs sinking. Ahead of the elections, Trump tweeted stocks would “go down” if Democrats prevailed. The S&P 500 rallied 2.1 percent the day after the vote, but has fallen in each of the three days since, erasing the post-election rally as concerns about global growth re-emerge. Trump tweets have moved financial markets throughout his presidency. It happened 10 days ago, when he said trade talks between the U.S. and China were “moving along nicely’’ and stocks soared. In April, he criticized big tech companies and they plunged. Oil prices and the dollar have also felt the wrath. Still, Trump appears eager to shift blame for future losses to his newly empowered political opponents — while also seeking to head off congressional investigations into ethical scandals and policy controversies during his first two years in office. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said over the weekend he could investigate whether the president used “instruments of state power” to punish news organizations. House Judiciary Committee raking Democrat Jerrold Nadler said he’d ask acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to testify about his plans for the special counsel probe into possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. The president’s efforts at blame-shifting aren’t new. Ahead of the elections, Trump tweeted stocks would “go down” if Democrats prevailed. That warning came after stocks fell follow reports that the administration would move forward with additional tariffs against China in early December if the two countries don’t make enough progress resolving their trade dispute. Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina at the end of November. Democrats won control of the House, capturing at least 225 seats, but Republicans expanded their advantage in the U.S. Senate. Key races in both chambers are yet to be called. In data going back to 1901, stocks have returned more when the government is divided than when it’s unified, according to a report by OppenheimerFunds. Trump previously blamed the Federal Reserve for stock declines, complaining after the central bank raised its benchmark rate three times this year. In an interview last month with the Wall Street Journal, Trump said he “maybe” regretted appointing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] The midterm elections marked a significant shift in American politics. Democrats reclaim the House of Representatives, while Republicans strengthen their report on the Senator. But digging farther to how won shows how different the new Congress will be. [ MUSIC ] The number of women in the House of Representatives will reach an historic high when new members are sworn in next January largely due to Democrats. More than 30 House of Representatives seats went to female candidates this year as a record number of women ran for Congress. Many of the women say they were inspired to run by Donald Trump's win in 2016 and his behavior as president since then. 29- year- old Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez is now the youngest elected member. And Democrats Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota will become the first Muslim women in Congress. [ UNKNOWN ] Democrat Sherice Davids of Kansas and Deb Holland of New Mexico gained victories as the first Native American women to be voted into congress while republican Marsha Blackburn will become the first female senator from Tennessee. [ MUSIC ] 2018 is shaping- up to be historic for voter turnout as well. Early numbers indicate approximately 114 million votes cast, much higher than the 83 million cast in 2014. With control of Congress at stake, turns out was high among both Democrats and Republicans eager to make their stamp on Trump's next two years in office. Popular ballot measures and voting rights, abortion and marijuana also contributed. [ MUSIC ] Trump was not on the ballot, but many voters acted as he was. The president heavy campaigning in red states appeared to help Republican candidates over the line. At the same time, the President's unpopularity drove turnout in many Democratic areas, and appeared to hurt Republican house candidates running in the suburbs of major cities. As democrats clean the house a the incoming chairs of 21 committees will be looking for ways to press forward on investigations they feel more ignored under the Republic in majority. This is likely to include likes Trump's personal financial conflicts as well as as well as controversies around members of his administration such as. Former EPA director Scott Pruitt. Some Democratic veterans have urged restraint, arguing that the new House majority should take its time to work through the most urgent investigations and avoid the appearance of a free for all. Trump argued that investigations would harm any ability for him to work with the Democrats on bipartisan legislation on infrastructure and other issues. The 2018 mid- terms may be over but the repercussions from election night will be felt for years to come. 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