Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has taken to social media to challenge U.S. President Donald Trump, advising investors to act contrary to Trump's market-moving posts. Ghalibaf, a rising hard-line figure in Iran, has been using X (formerly Twitter) to counter Trump's influence on financial markets and news coverage.
Core Facts & Developments
Ghalibaf posted on Sunday that Trump's Truth Social messages often serve as a setup for profit-taking, urging followers to "do the opposite" of Trump's indications. He suggested shorting markets if Trump pumps them and going long if Trump dumps them. Additionally, Ghalibaf shared an image of a damaged American AWACS aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, captioning it with sarcasm: "sustained only minor damage."
Deeper Dive & Context
Market Manipulation Claims
Ghalibaf has repeatedly accused Trump of manipulating financial and oil markets through his social media posts. He claimed that Trump's comments about negotiations with Iran were intended to influence markets, despite the U.S. government denying such allegations. On March 27, Ghalibaf criticized Trump's posts, stating they were "fake news" aimed at escaping the "quagmire" in which the U.S. and Israel are trapped.
Social Media Strategy
Ghalibaf's approach mirrors Trump's style but with a more concise and less aggressive tone. He has nearly 500,000 followers on X and has been using memes and AI-generated content to counter U.S. narratives. State media in Iran has also joined the effort, taunting Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Market Reactions
Trump's posts have historically moved markets, with equities and oil prices reacting to his comments. For instance, a March 25 post about "productive" talks with Iran led to a temporary rise in U.S. equities and a drop in oil prices, though the S&P 500 ended the week lower. Ghalibaf's advice to investors has been framed as a counter-strategy to Trump's market influence.
Broader Information War
The exchange between Ghalibaf and Trump is part of a larger information war between Iran and the U.S. Both sides are using social media to shape narratives, with Iran flooding the internet with memes and AI-generated content depicting attacks on American bases.