President Trump launched a new program that could transform millions of American children into capitalists — and parents are already opening accounts by the thousands.
The Trump Accounts program gives children seed money to invest in the stock market, with bonuses ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on age and zip code. Children age 10 and under qualify for $250 from the Dell Foundation in most zip codes. Newborns receive a $1,000 baby bonus for opening accounts.
SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell announced on launch day that the company would gift two million shares to American children between ages 11 and 17.
“Instead of having the government taking care of everyone, Trump Accounts are about making every child and every American a capitalist. Every one of our kids is now going to be an owner of one of the biggest producers in our country.”
Sen. Ted Cruz made that point during the Oval Office launch, comparing the program to the New Deal — but with a capitalist twist instead of government dependency.
The program addresses a massive gap in American education: financial literacy. Most schools never teach investing. Millions of Americans assume the stock market is only for the super rich and that a low-interest savings account is their only option for growth.
The Trump Accounts app changes that with a built-in crash course on investing — a dozen four-minute lessons on topics like compounding, stocks, and fractional shares.
Parents can watch their children’s seed money grow in real time. The app includes projections based on average market growth and sample monthly contributions.
A $50 monthly contribution for a three-year-old transforms into almost $15,000 by age 18 and over $433,000 by age 60. For a 12-year-old, that same contribution grows to over $4,000 at 18 and over $231,000 at 60.
The message is powerful: time is the greatest gift in compounding. The earlier you invest, the better — but it’s never too late.
Critics argue that 529 college savings accounts or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act accounts may offer better tax advantages. But the Trump Accounts have clear benefits: employers and family members can easily contribute, and philanthropists can make tangible impacts on the next generation instead of funding nonprofit overhead.
The education component matters most. For millions of Americans without investment accounts beyond basic checking and savings, this is their first chance to see compounding in action.
The Trump Accounts serve as a gateway into Americans opening 529 accounts with their state or brokerage accounts with firms like Schwab or Fidelity.
Bethany Mandel, a Daily Wire writer and homeschooling mother of six, opened Trump Accounts for all her children over the July 4th weekend. She learned investing as a 22-year-old recent college graduate, using lunch money to buy stocks. Those investments grew over 1,000% — from $3,600 to over $43,000 — in almost 20 years.
She watched her four-year-old’s 529 college savings account grow from $29,000 to $40,000. Her older three kids’ accounts doubled in value.
Millions of Americans will now get their first taste of investing and capitalism thanks to the Trump Accounts.
That lesson is priceless — and its impact will compound for decades to come.
