Prediction: The Trump Bull Market Will Come to an Abrupt End From an Unlikely Source -- the Federal Reserve

Core Viewpoint - The current bull market under President Trump is facing potential challenges due to divisions within the Federal Reserve, which could undermine investor confidence and market stability [13][19]. Group 1: Market Performance - The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite have seen significant gains of 57%, 70%, and 142% respectively during Trump's first term [2] - Since Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, these indices have increased by 13%, 15%, and 18% respectively through February 3, 2026 [3] - Historically, 26 out of the last 33 presidential terms have resulted in positive returns for the Dow or S&P 500, indicating a trend of stock market gains under presidential leadership [5] Group 2: Economic Policies - Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, the lowest since 1939, aiming to stimulate business growth [7] - Share buybacks for S&P 500 companies reached an estimated $1 trillion in 2025, reflecting the impact of tax cuts on corporate financial strategies [8] - Trump's "America First" agenda has attracted significant investments in domestic businesses, despite some trade policy-related market volatility [9] Group 3: Federal Reserve Dynamics - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is currently experiencing dissent among its members, which is unusual and could affect market trust [15][16] - Recent FOMC meetings have shown conflicting opinions on monetary policy, with some members advocating for no rate cuts while others support more aggressive reductions [16] - Jerome Powell's term as Fed chair is ending in May 2026, and the nomination of Kevin Warsh raises concerns about potential changes in the Fed's approach to its $6.6 trillion balance sheet [17][18] Group 4: Market Valuation - The S&P 500's Shiller Price-to-Earnings Ratio indicates that the current market is the second-priciest in history, suggesting limited room for error as the Federal Reserve's stance shifts [19]