Trump launches new child investment accounts as Robinhood joins program

President Donald Trump rang the New York Stock Exchange opening bell from the Oval Office on Monday as his administration pushed Trump Accounts, a tax-deferred investment program for children that launched on July 4, the 250th anniversary celebration of U.S. independence.

The accounts are open to U.S. citizens under 18 and come with a $1,000 government contribution for eligible children born between 2025 and 2028. Families can add their own money under the program’s rules, which makes the initial federal seed the easiest part of the benefit and household contributions the part that will determine how much money actually accumulates over time. Treasury said the program is designed to encourage long-term investing and financial literacy from an early age, with the assets held for the child rather than framed for short-term trading. As of March 31, more than 4 million children had already been signed up, and more than 1 million were eligible for the $1,000 pilot contribution.

Bank of New York Mellon, known as BNY, was designated by the Treasury Department as the financial agent for the program. Treasury said BNY will manage the initial accounts and help develop the new Trump Accounts app, while Robinhood will build and operate the technology, app experience, customer support and educational resources. Treasury also said Robinhood will serve as brokerage and initial trustee. Robinhood chairman and chief executive Vlad Tenev has been part of the effort, and the company said it would match Treasury’s $1,000 contribution for eligible children of its employees.

The consumer risk here is straightforward: the biggest boost goes to families with enough spare cash to add to the government seed and leave it invested. Critics have argued the accounts may do little for lower-income households that cannot contribute beyond the federal money. That is where the program looks less like a broad savings fix and more like a hybrid of policy and branding, built around a political launch date, a White House presentation and a private brokerage platform. BNY has described the initiative as a way to expand financial opportunity and strengthen U.S. capital markets, while supporters say it could give millions of children their first exposure to compounding and market investing.