Trump Launches New Investment Account for Children
On July 6, 2026, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached an all-time high, President Donald Trump celebrated the launch of the Trump Account by ringing the opening bells for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq from the Oval Office.
This new savings initiative, which aims to support children who, as Trump noted, are often “born without money,” is established under the previous year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The inauguration event featured various prominent business figures and financial experts. Among them were Brad Gerstner, founder of Altimeter Capital, Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher, and Nasdaq’s Adena Friedman. Notably, a group of children was present to cheer as the president rang the bell, marking the beginning of the trading day.
Executives who contributed to the fund were also in attendance, including Michael and Susan Dell, who have donated over $6 billion to support the Trump Account.
Additionally, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell shared that she and her husband are contributing a portion of SpaceX stock to benefit over 2 million children by participating in the Invest America program.
Federal officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and SEC Chairman Paul Atkins were also present at the ceremony. This event was only the second occasion in history where a sitting president has rung the NYSE opening bell, following President Ronald Reagan’s inaugural event in 1985.
“This is about the Trump account, and it’s completely unbelievable to kids. Kids become very wealthy people after the age of 18. They come into this world with virtually no money and end up becoming very rich at a very young age,” President Trump remarked. “It’s what we wanted to do, what this country has wanted to do for 25 years.”
The stock market opened the week with significant gains, pushing the Dow Jones to a record closing high of 53,055.91 points. The S&P 500 index also rose, finishing the day nearly 1% shy of its own record, while the Nasdaq Composite increased by 1.12% due to a surge in semiconductor stocks.
Already, about 6 million Americans have enrolled in this program, which is accessible for any child under the age of 18. Children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, will qualify for a $1,000 seed money bonus.
Investing options are available through index and exchange-traded funds focused on U.S. stocks. Once they turn 18, participants can either continue saving and investing the funds or utilize them for education or housing purposes. Employers can facilitate automatic contributions, along with donations from family and organizations, up to a limit of $5,000 annually. With the funds being tax-deferred until withdrawal, financial experts project that the initial $1,000 could potentially grow to $10,000 or even $20,000 over 18 years without further investment.
