Trump Hawley Stock Trade Ban 2025: GOP Tensions Rise After Bipartisan Bill Advances

Former President Donald Trump sharply criticized Sen. Josh Hawley on Wednesday, calling him a “second-tier Senator” after Hawley’s bipartisan bill to ban stock trading by top government officials passed a key committee vote. The measure, co-sponsored with Sen. Gary Peters, targets lawmakers, the president, vice president, and their spouses.

A GOP Rift Over the Honest Act

The Honest Act cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, with Hawley siding with Democrats to block amendments that would have excluded the president or targeted Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s stock trades. Trump reacted angrily on social media, claiming Hawley was helping Democrats and undermining Republican unity.

“I don’t think real Republicans want to see their President… TARGETED, because of the ‘whims’ of a second-tier Senator named Josh Hawley,” Trump wrote.

What the Stock Trade Ban Would Do

If passed, the bill would:

  • Prohibit members of Congress, the president, and vice president from buying stocks.

  • Ban them from selling stocks for 90 days after the law takes effect.

  • Require divestment of covered investments starting in the next term of office — a provision that would not immediately apply to Trump.

Committee Battle Highlights Party Divide

Sen. Rick Scott proposed amendments to shield the president, vice president, and their families from the bill, and to investigate Pelosi’s trades. Both were defeated, with Hawley again voting alongside Democrats. Sen. Ron Johnson called the legislation “legislative demagoguery,” arguing that existing insider trading laws and disclosure rules are sufficient.

Broader Support and Pushback

While Trump and some GOP leaders oppose the bill, others — including Pelosi — back it.

“The American people deserve confidence that their elected leaders are serving the public interest — not their personal portfolios,” Pelosi said.

Sen. Gary Peters emphasized the bill’s urgency:

“We are one step closer to barring bad actors from taking advantage of their positions for financial gain.”

Trump Clashes With More GOP Senators

This marks Trump’s second attack on a Republican senator in as many days. On Tuesday, he blasted Sen. Chuck Grassley over the Senate’s “blue slip” process for judicial nominations, pressuring him to abandon the longstanding bipartisan custom. Grassley pushed back, saying he was “offended.”

Source: AP News