IBM experienced a meme stock-style rally as mentions of the stock on Reddit's Wall Street Bets surged and call options purchases soared, with one trader posting a $60,000 margin bet on Monday. The rally coincided with wide circulation of months-old video showing President Trump praising IBM's CEO and hinting at share price increases. The stock's reaction mirrors patterns seen with Intel and Dell, which surged after presidential comments and government involvement, with Intel tripling in 2026 following a 9.9% U.S. government stake and Dell rising over 250% in 2026 after Trump's positive remarks.
Traders Deploy Meme Stock Tactics on IBM Shares
Several indications of meme-style trading emerged around IBM stock. Mentions of IBM on Reddit's Wall Street Bets increased sharply while purchases of call options soared. One trader posted on Monday about a $60,000 bet on IBM shares, stating the position was "entirely margin" or made with borrowed money. The trader wrote "Take me to Valhalla" when touting the leveraged position.
Trump Video Praising IBM CEO Circulates Widely
Months-old video of Trump praising IBM's CEO and hinting that the company's share price would soon go higher circulated widely on Monday. The comments resembled remarks the president made previously about other major U.S. tech companies. The current rally appears closely related to President Trump's involvement in the U.S. stock market, both personally and as a matter of U.S. government policy.
Intel and Dell Rallied Following Presidential Attention
The IBM pattern follows precedents set by Intel and Dell. Intel more than tripled in 2026 after the U.S. government took a 9.9% stake in the chipmaker last year. Recent disclosures of Trump's investment portfolio show several purchases of Intel shares were made in March. Dell surged more than 250% in 2026 after receiving positive comments from the president. The comments came after CEO Michael Dell's philanthropic funding of the "Trump Accounts" program. Disclosures show Trump's investment portfolio made a Dell purchase of between $1 million and $5 million before those comments.
Trump Organization Denies Investment Decision Involvement
The Trump Organization stated that "neither President Trump, his family, nor The Trump Organization plays any role in selecting, directing, or approving specific investments. They receive no advance notice of trading activity and provide no input regarding investment decisions or portfolio management of any kind," according to a spokesperson's emailed statement. The statement was issued in response to questions about the pattern of stock rallies following presidential comments.
FAQ
What caused IBM's meme stock rally?
IBM's rally was driven by increased mentions on Reddit's Wall Street Bets, soaring call options purchases, and wide circulation of months-old video showing President Trump praising IBM's CEO and hinting at share price increases.
How did Intel and Dell perform after Trump's involvement?
Intel more than tripled in 2026 after the U.S. government took a 9.9% stake, with Trump's portfolio purchasing Intel shares in March. Dell surged over 250% in 2026 after Trump's positive comments, following a $1 million to $5 million purchase by Trump's portfolio.
