Trump says of 401(k) gains: "That’s me that did it!"

At an Oct. 29 campaign rally in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Donald Trump tied stock-market performance during his presidency to retirement-account growth and to improved marital happiness, recounting that women had described changed feelings toward husbands after investment gains. The remarks came as he urged voters before November’s midterms to check their 401(k) balances and cited 88 record market highs since his election. The article reports Fidelity’s average 401(k) balance reached a record $155,800 in the second quarter of 2026, up 13% from a year earlier, while the S&P 500 had gained 12.8% that year as of Oct. 29, according to AP. It also notes that contributions affect balances, Vanguard’s median account was $44,115 at the end of 2025, and there is no clear evidence that Trump’s policies caused the gains.