The Stock Market Has Not Gone Down Much, Says Donald Trump, Points To A Shocking Scenario

April 14, 2026

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The stock market has held up better than expected during the escalating conflict with Iran, President Donald Trump said over the weekend, warning that a dramatic downturn could still happen under one specific scenario: nuclear escalation.

“The stock market has not gone down very much at all. It’s gone down a little bit, much less than I thought,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday. He added that energy prices have also remained relatively stable so far, despite rising tensions in the Middle East.

Trump: “You want to see a stock market go down? Let a couple nuclear bombs be dropped on us or frankly any place else, and then you’ll see a stock market that goes down. So the stock market has not gone very much at all. It’s gone down a little bit. Much less than I thought. And… pic.twitter.com/uu5FAtALzo

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 12, 2026

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Despite the market’s resilience, Trump made clear what he believes would trigger a far more severe reaction.

“You want to see a stock market go down, let a couple of nuclear bombs be dropped on us, or frankly, any place else,” he told Fox News. “Then you’ll see a stock market that goes down.” He argued that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is essential not just for security reasons, but also for economic stability.

Trump also addressed gas prices, saying they have held up better than expected so far. “Frankly, the gas hasn’t gone up as much as I thought,” he said, adding that while prices could stay the same or even move slightly higher in the short term, “eventually it’s going to be lower” once the situation stabilizes.

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Trump also pointed to recent market milestones as a sign of economic strength, saying, “The Dow hit 50,000.” He added that it was “supposed to be in four or five years,” but happened much sooner under his watch. “It hit 50,000 in my first year here,” he said.

Trump repeatedly emphasized that Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain the central sticking point in negotiations. “They want to have nuclear weapons,” he said. “It’s not going to happen.”

The U.S. began enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports on Monday, half an hour after the markets opened and the S&P 500 finished 1.02% higher, its highest close since before the conflict on Feb. 28. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.23%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.63%, recovering from earlier losses of more than 400 points.

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While markets have remained relatively stable despite rising geopolitical tensions, events like these highlight how quickly sentiment can shift when uncertainty escalates. Periods of heightened risk are often driven more by headlines and expectations than fundamentals, leading to sharp short-term moves in either direction. For traders looking to navigate this type of volatility, some turn to ETFs designed for tactical exposure to market swings.

Providers like Direxion offer leveraged ETF strategies that allow investors to respond to changing conditions without directly holding individual assets, making them a tool some use in fast-moving, event-driven environments.

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Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, professional financial guidance, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Rad AI

RAD Intel is an AI-driven marketing platform helping brands improve campaign performance by turning complex data into actionable insights for content, influencer strategy, and ROI optimization. Positioned within the multi-hundred-billion-dollar digital marketing industry, the company works with global brands across sectors to improve targeting precision and creative performance using its analytics and AI tools. With strong revenue growth, expanding enterprise contracts, and a Nasdaq ticker reserved under $RADI, RAD Intel is opening access to its Regulation A+ offering, giving investors exposure to the growing intersection of AI, marketing, and creator economy infrastructure.

rHealth

rHealth is building a space-tested diagnostics platform designed to bring lab-quality blood testing closer to patients in minutes rather than weeks. Originally validated in collaboration with NASA for use aboard the International Space Station, the technology is now being adapted for at-home and point-of-care settings to address widespread delays in diagnostic access.

Backed by institutions including NASA and the NIH, rHealth is targeting the large global diagnostics market with a multi-test platform and a model built around devices, consumables, and software. With FDA registration in progress, the company is positioning itself as a potential shift toward faster, more decentralized healthcare testing.

Direxion

Direxion specializes in leveraged and inverse ETFs designed to help active traders express short-term market views during periods of volatility and major market events. Rather than long-term investing, these products are built for tactical use—allowing investors to take magnified bullish or bearish positions across indices, sectors, and single stocks. For experienced traders, Direxion offers a way to respond quickly to changing market conditions and act on high-conviction views with greater flexibility.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Masterworks

Masterworks enables investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an alternative asset class with historically low correlation to stocks and bonds. Through fractional ownership of museum-quality works by artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors gain access without the high costs or complexities of owning art outright. With hundreds of offerings and strong historical exits on select works, Masterworks adds a scarce, globally traded asset to portfolios seeking long-term diversification.

Finance Advisors

Finance Advisors helps Americans approach retirement with greater clarity by connecting them to vetted, fiduciary financial advisors who specialize in tax-aware retirement planning. Rather than focusing on products or investment performance alone, the platform emphasizes strategies that account for after-tax income, withdrawal sequencing, and long-term tax efficiency—factors that can materially impact retirement outcomes. Free to use, Finance Advisors gives individuals with meaningful savings access to a level of planning sophistication historically reserved for high-net-worth households, helping reduce hidden tax risk and improve long-term financial confidence.

Bam Capital

BAM Capital offers accredited investors a way to diversify beyond public markets through institutional-grade multifamily real estate. With over $1.85 billion in completed transactions and guidance from Senior Economic Advisor Tony Landa, the firm targets income and long-term growth as supply tightens and renter demand remains strong—especially in Midwest markets. Its income-focused and growth-oriented funds provide exposure to real assets designed to be less tied to stock market volatility.

Public

Public is a multi-asset investing platform built for long-term investors who want more control, transparency, and innovation in how they grow wealth. Founded in 2019 as the first broker-dealer to offer commission-free, real-time fractional investing, Public now lets users invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto, and more—all in one place. Its latest feature, Generated Assets, uses AI to turn a single idea into a fully customized, investable index that can be explained and backtested before committing capital. Combined with AI-powered research tools, clear explanations of market moves, and an uncapped 1% match for transferring an existing portfolio, Public positions itself as a modern platform designed to help serious investors make more informed decisions with context.

AdviserMatch

AdviserMatch is a free online tool that helps individuals connect with financial advisors based on their goals, financial situation, and investment needs. Instead of spending hours researching advisors on your own, the platform asks a few quick questions and matches you with professionals who can assist with areas like retirement planning, investment strategy, and overall financial guidance. Consultations are no-obligation, and services vary by advisor, giving investors a chance to explore whether professional advice could help improve their long-term financial plan.

EnergyX

EnergyX is a lithium extraction company focused on making production faster and more efficient with its LiTAS® technology, which can recover over 90% of lithium in just days instead of months. Backed by General Motors and a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, the company controls extensive lithium acreage in Chile and the U.S. and is working to scale one of the largest lithium production facilities. Its goal is to help meet the rapidly growing global demand for lithium, a key resource for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and large-scale energy storage.

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