Trump Bought Abbott Shares Before DOJ Dropped Infant Formula Probe

The president’s annual financial disclosure, a 927-page document detailing over $1 billion in trades, reveals that initial purchases of Abbott stock began in September 2025. According to The Wall Street Journal, senior DOJ officials opted to close the case despite internal recommendations from prosecutors who believed there was sufficient evidence to pursue charges under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Abbott had previously contributed $500,000 to Trump’s inaugural fund.

While the DOJ settled a civil lawsuit alleging a "culture of concealment" at the Sturgis facility, the criminal probe was abandoned. Whistleblowers and former employees have continued to allege that the plant maintains unsanitary practices, including shortcuts in equipment cleaning and microbial testing. Abbott has dismissed these claims as misleading.

This transaction fits a broader pattern of well-timed financial moves by the administration. In April 2025, a massive $12.8 million trading spree involving major tech stocks preceded a surprise announcement regarding a tariff pause, which triggered a nearly 10% surge in the S&P 500.