Sunday, March 1, 2026 — Social media platforms have been flooded with dramatic claims that President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency and ordered a complete shutdown of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ and all major US exchanges under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The claim is not true.
There has been no official confirmation from the White House, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the NYSE, NASDAQ or any US regulatory authority that such an action has been taken.
What the viral posts claim
The circulating message alleges that:
- Trump invoked IEEPA
- All US stock exchanges were ordered to halt trading immediately
- Markets will remain closed until further notice
- This is the first such move since 1933
However, none of these assertions have been supported by official statements or regulatory notices.
Can a president shut down the stock market under IEEPA?
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act allows a president to:
- Regulate international financial transactions
- Freeze foreign assets
- Impose sanctions during a declared emergency
It does not give the president direct authority to unilaterally shut down domestic stock exchanges indefinitely.
How US markets are actually halted
Stock trading in the United States can be paused through:
- Exchange circuit breakers during extreme volatility
- Regulatory coordination with the SEC
- Emergency closures under very specific conditions
The last full multi-day market closure occurred after the September 11 attacks in 2001. The 1933 Bank Holiday mainly affected banks rather than a blanket stock market shutdown ordered directly by a president.
Current status
As of now:
- US exchanges remain operational
- No emergency order has been issued
- The claim appears to be a viral hoax circulating online
Investors and readers are advised to rely on official government and exchange communications rather than unverified posts spreading on social media.