PolitiFact Rates Trump’s $30,000 401(k) Gain Claim Mostly False as Data Shows $9,454 Rise
Updated
Updated · WRAL News · Jun 26
PolitiFact Rates Trump’s $30,000 401(k) Gain Claim Mostly False as Data Shows $9,454 Rise
2 articles · Updated · WRAL News · Jun 26
Summary
Fidelity data across 26,000 plans and about 25 million participants showed average 401(k) balances rose $9,454 between Dec. 2024 and March 2026, far below Trump’s repeated claim of an almost $30,000 gain.
No age group in Fidelity’s breakdown gained more than about $16,000 on average, and experts said the median increase was likely lower because high-balance accounts skew averages upward.
A 401(k) would likely need at least a $200,000 starting balance to gain $30,000 over that period, a level held by only about 10% to 20% of U.S. adults, making it unrepresentative of a typical account.
The S&P 500 rose about 24% from Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025 inauguration to June 23, but 401(k) balances lag because portfolios usually hold only 60% to 65% in stocks and also reflect contributions and withdrawals.
Vanguard reported hardship withdrawals climbed to about 6% of plan participants in 2025 from 4.8% in 2024, underscoring that rising retirement balances do not necessarily ease near-term household financial strain.