Republicans to tout congressional stock-trading ban at midterm convention as Trump trades — SkimNews
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- Republicans opened their Dallas midterm convention Wednesday with a "Government Integrity" theme featuring Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and at least one other speaker calling for a congressional stock-trading ban, less than two months after the House passed the Stop Insider Trading Act 232-198.
- President Trump disclosed at least $858 million in assets and more than 21,000 trades across eight accounts in 2025 — compared with roughly 500 trades during his entire first term — per a CNBC analysis of his annual financial disclosure.
- Trump's accounts logged 1,051 transactions in June alone totaling between $78.1 million and $263.1 million, including multimillion-dollar moves in Meta, Berkshire Hathaway, Visa and Mastercard, plus as much as $50,000 in newly public SpaceX.
- CNBC found Trump's nine largest oil and gas holdings gained an estimated $1.5 million to $4.4 million from the eve of the Iran war through Aug. 31, while his accounts continued buying and selling energy stocks during the conflict; CNBC found no evidence he directed trades or shaped policy to benefit investments.
- The Stop Insider Trading Act bars members from buying individual stocks in office but allows them to retain existing holdings and sell shares after publicly disclosing intent at least seven days in advance — and the restrictions explicitly do not apply to the president.
- Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat who has worked with Republicans on a broader proposal, called the House bill "a stock trading ban that still allows stock trading," flagging that existing holdings and disclosure-window sales remain intact.
- The Trump Organization and White House maintain outside financial institutions have full discretion over trades via automated strategies, with the White House stating there are "no conflicts of interest" — though Trump still benefits from asset appreciation.
Why it matters: The convention's marquee anti-corruption bill was drafted to carve out the one office holder whose portfolio dwarfs every lawmaker's: the president. With Trump disclosing 21,000+ trades and $858M in holdings, and his bill explicitly excluding him, the GOP's integrity pitch invites direct counterattack from Democrats in competitive midterm districts.
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