US President Donald Trump traded Coupang stocks multiple times between October last year and May this year, according to financial disclosure documents released by the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE) on July 4 local time. The filings show Trump bought and sold up to $130,000 worth of Coupang shares during this period, with his largest purchase occurring in February (up to $280,000) and a subsequent sale in May (up to $150,000), leaving holdings valued at up to $130,000. The trading activity occurred during a period of heightened scrutiny of Coupang in both Korea and the United States, including a data breach disclosure and congressional hearings on alleged discriminatory treatment by Korean authorities.
OGE Filings Detail Trump's Coupang Stock Holdings and Transaction Timeline
The OGE documents list Coupang common stock holdings in Trump's "Other Assets and Income" section across two investment accounts. Investment Account ⑦ shows holdings valued between $51,000 and $100,000 (item 306), while Investment Account ⑧ lists holdings between $1,001 and $15,000. Trump repeatedly bought and sold Coupang shares starting in October last year, with the largest purchase transaction valued at up to $280,000 in February and a sale transaction valued at up to $150,000 in May.
The actual profit from Trump's Coupang stock trading remains uncertain. During the trading period last year, Coupang's stock price declined significantly amid what the source article refers to as the "Coupang crisis." In February this year, when Trump made his largest purchase, Coupang shares traded around $18 per share. By May, when the sale occurred, the stock had fallen to around $15 per share, suggesting the possibility of negative returns on the February-May transactions.
Trading Activity Coincided with Coupang Controversies in Korea and US
Trump's initial purchase and sale of Coupang stock in mid-October to mid-November last year occurred shortly before Coupang's announcement of a data breach incident. His subsequent purchase in mid-December coincided with the "Coupang hearings" in Korea beginning to attract attention in the United States.
Starting in January this year, claims emerged in US political circles that the Korean government was treating Coupang in a discriminatory manner. In February, Coupang provided closed-door testimony to the US House Judiciary Committee. On July 1, the Judiciary Committee released a report stating that the Korean government discriminates against Coupang and other US companies.
US Trade Officials Disclosed Coupang Compensation Prior to Appointments
Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative and the official responsible for Coupang-related matters, disclosed receiving $10,000 from Coupang on May 17, 2024 for speaking and consulting services while he was a partner at law firm King & Spalding. Allison Hooker, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, also disclosed receiving compensation from Coupang for consulting services provided before taking office.
FAQ
What Coupang stock holdings did Trump disclose in OGE filings?
Trump's OGE filings show Coupang common stock holdings valued between $51,000 and $100,000 in Investment Account ⑦ and between $1,001 and $15,000 in Investment Account ⑧, as disclosed in documents released on July 4 local time.
When did the US House Judiciary Committee release its report on Coupang?
The US House Judiciary Committee released a report on July 1 stating that the Korean government discriminates against Coupang and other US companies.
