The president of the United States usually lives by one simple rule when communicating with investors: A rising stock market is good. A falling stock market is not.

Washington’s worsening stalemate over the shutdown and debt ceiling is changing that approach.

President Barack Obama and his top economic officials appear to be pushing for some market unrest to exert pressure on the GOP to throw in the towel. Asked in his CNBC interview Wednesday whether Wall Street is right to remain calm over the standoff, Mr. Obama replied: “No.”