Fox Reporter Denies Manipulating Stocks After Trade Scoop

Fox Business correspondent Charles Gasparino defended himself against accusations of market manipulation after reporting on a potential trade agreement involving the Trump administration. Gasparino, known for his coverage of Donald Trump and recent reporting challenging conservative viewpoints on tariffs, initially shared via social media Saturday a report regarding the president’s willingness to potentially risk financial instability to advance his policy goals.

On Sunday, Gasparino reported a “scoop” – information from a Wall Street executive with White House connections suggesting that Scott Bessent is nearing an announcement of a “significant” trade deal, likely with Japan. Gasparino immediately qualified the report, stating he hadn’t independently confirmed the information with the White House – noting it was Easter – and emphasizing the volatile nature of trade negotiations. He reiterated that while sources indicated progress toward a deal, timing remained uncertain.

Richard Field, Director of the Institute for Financial Transparency, responded to Gasparino’s report with a tweet accusing him of attempting to “pump” the stock and bond markets. Gasparino swiftly countered, stating the accusation was ironic given his history of both reporting positive and negative market analysis, and suggesting Field hadn’t fully read his original report.

The exchange highlights the sensitivity surrounding market-moving information, particularly when linked to the Trump administration, and the challenges journalists face in balancing breaking news with responsible reporting and avoiding accusations of bias or manipulation. It’s a common, though often unfair, criticism leveled at financial reporters – being accused of influencing the market simply by reporting on it. Gasparino’s immediate qualification of his scoop demonstrates a degree of journalistic caution often absent in the current fast-paced news cycle.