Shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rise at the open on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump says the two mortgage finance companies are likely worth about $1 trillion, echoing renewed Wall Street hopes for an eventual exit from government oversight. Bloomberg reports the initial gains are later pared back as traders respond with skepticism to the comments.
Trump’s remarks, made late Thursday, praise Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte for improvements at Fannie and Freddie and say they “probably” have $1 trillion in value, while also commenting on earlier political statements about selling stakes. The outlets describe Trump’s framing as linked to expectations for privatization and potential government-stake sales.
Other reported context includes earlier losses in the week’s trading, following Trump’s appointment of Pulte to an additional role as acting director of national intelligence. Market participants expressed concern that holding both positions could slow progress toward any sale of the government’s stake. One cited analyst estimates combined fair value for the companies in a lower range of about $200–$250 billion, reflecting differing views on valuation. Overall, the sources portray sharp intraday volatility tied to the remarks and uncertainty about timelines for policy changes.