Trump’s Endorsement of Florida Candidate Jon Maples: Potential Tailwinds for U.S. Industrials, Defense, and Gun Stocks

President Trump has posted a new announcement on Truth Social, the social media platform. He wrote:

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Jon Maples, who is running to represent the wonderful people of Florida’s 87th State House District. Jon is a very successful Businessman and Civic Leader, who is known and loved, and also endorsed by so many of my Palm Beach County friends, including by Great State Representative “MAGA” Meg Weinberger. Jon will be a terrific Legislator! As your next State Representative, Jon will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Stop Migrant Crime, Safeguard our Elections, Support our Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Jon Maples has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Florida HD-87. Early Voting ends January 11th, and Primary Election Day is January 13th. GET OUT AND VOTE FOR JON — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

How Will Trump’s Statement Affect the Stock Market?

This latest post has the potential to affect the stock market. That’s because Trump’s endorsement of Jon Maples on a platform of cutting regulations, promoting “Made in the U.S.A.,” and boosting the economy could create a mildly positive sentiment for industrial and manufacturing names such as Caterpillar, Deere & Company, and broad industrial ETFs like XLI and XLI-like funds (XLI, XLI-proxy sector SPDRs), as markets often view pro-growth, deregulatory rhetoric as supportive of capital spending. His emphasis on supporting the military and veterans could be seen as incrementally favorable for defense contractors and related ETFs—Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, plus aerospace & defense funds like XAR, ITA, and PPA—on the perception of sustained or increased defense-friendly policy. Strongly pro–Second Amendment language may also give a short-term sentiment boost to firearm manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson Brands and Sturm, Ruger & Company, while the broader consumer discretionary ETFs (VCR, XLY) are less directly affected and would likely see minimal impact unless the rhetoric becomes tied to broader fiscal or tax policies.

Here are some of the stocks that might be affected:
Caterpillar ((CAT)),
Deere & Company ((DE)),
Lockheed Martin ((LMT)),
Northrop Grumman Corp. ((NOC)),
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. ((SWBI)),
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. ((RGR)),
Rtx Corporation ((RTX)),
Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund ((XLI)),
Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF ((VCR)),
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF ((XAR)),
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund ((XLY)),
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF ((ITA)),
iShares U.S. Industrials ETF ((IYJ)).