Trump Trades Hundreds of Millions of Yen in Kura Sushi USA Shares

May 20, 2026 | News On Japan

WASHINGTON DC, May 20, 2026 (News On Japan) - U.S. President Donald Trump was found to have traded large amounts of stock, including shares in Kura Sushi USA, in a wave of more than 3,700 transactions over a three-month period that has sparked criticism over possible conflicts of interest.

According to financial disclosures released by the U.S. government, Trump acquired Kura Sushi USA shares between January and March this year, with the value of the transactions estimated at between $1 million, or roughly 160 million yen, and $5 million, or about 800 million yen.

Trump also carried out extensive trades involving a broad range of major companies, including semiconductor giant Nvidia, aerospace manufacturer Boeing, and software company Oracle. The total number of trades exceeded 3,700 during the three-month period, averaging more than 40 transactions per day.

While stock trading by a sitting U.S. president is not prohibited, experts described the scale of the activity as highly unusual.

“Even for the American public, this is surprising,” said David Sacco, an associate professor at George Washington University.

The disclosures drew attention partly because Trump is known to dislike raw fish and is not considered a sushi enthusiast, leaving the reason behind the Kura Sushi investment unclear.

Kura Sushi has been rapidly expanding its presence in the United States, operating 91 stores nationwide with another 14 locations scheduled to open.

“I love it. My favorite is the wagyu, and second is the Philadelphia roll,” one customer said outside a Washington restaurant.

“It’s great for families, but also easy to stop by alone,” another customer said.

Experts warned that the president’s aggressive trading activity could undermine public trust in government and fuel concerns that political power may be used for personal financial benefit.

“Past presidents have worked to maintain confidence in government and shared the understanding that politicians should work for the public good,” Sacco said. “I am not convinced Trump shares those values.”

Trump has faced growing criticism over potential conflicts of interest, but according to Bloomberg, the U.S. government has denied that any conflict exists.

Source: TBS

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