Letters from an American What News Do We Trust?
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Mar 24, 2026 Coverage of Trump's public swings between calming markets and threatening Iran's infrastructure. Discussion of sudden market moves and evidence of trading spikes before his optimistic posts. Exploration of alleged back-channel messages and claims of negotiations with Iran. Questions raised about control of the Strait of Hormuz and implications for US credibility and potential insider profits.
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Market Moves Follow Contradictory Presidential Posts
- President Donald J. Trump used posts claiming the war was winding down to try to calm markets after his February 28 attack on Iran.
- His simultaneous public threat to obliterate Iranian power plants then spiked volatility: S&P swings and Brent crude moved from ~$96 to over $112 intraday.
Iran's Denial Reversed The Market Rally
- Iran denied any contact with U.S. negotiators and accused Trump of trying to lower energy prices or buy time for military plans.
- The denial reversed market optimism quickly, causing the S&P to fall ~120 points and Brent crude to rebound toward $100–$112.
Timing Raised Market Manipulation Suspicions
- Observers on social media and economist Paul Krugman suggested possible market manipulation tied to the timing of Trump's posts.
- Reporters noted sudden jumps in S&P and oil futures about 15 minutes before Trump's upbeat announcement, implying trading opportunities.