...
By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump tore into Republican Senator Josh Hawley on Wednesday after Hawley was the lone Republican to join Democrats in advancing legislation that would ban members of Congress from buying, selling or owning individual stocks.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump called Hawley, who represents Missouri, a "pawn" and a "second-tier Senator," adding that the GOP lawmaker is "playing right into the dirty hands of the Democrats."
Newsweek reached out to Hawley's office for comment via email on Wednesday.
Read More on Politics
Why It Matters
Congressional stock trading has drawn widespread scrutiny from the public over concerns that lawmakers with access to nonpublic information could benefit financially from their positions, creating potential conflicts of interest.
Calls for stricter regulation have been fueled by repeated reports of lawmakers trading stocks during sensitive periods, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and transparency advocates say a ban on congressional stock trading would restore public trust in Congress while ensuring lawmakers do not use their positions for personal gain.
What To Know
Hawley, who introduced the bill, defended his vote to his fellow Republicans on Wednesday, saying, "I practice what I preach. I don't have individual stocks, I don't trade in stocks. I'm not a billionaire, unlike others on this committee. And what I think is, the American people are sending us a clear message."
The final vote in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs was 8-7, with Hawley and all the Democrats on the panel voting in favor. Every other Republican voted against it.
Trump on Wednesday accused Democrats of trying to "target" him with the proposal banning stock-trading, which is called the "HONEST Act."
...
The president's allegation came after Axios reported that Democrats on the Homeland Security panel had pushed Hawley to include language in the bill that would also impose some limits on the president and vice president, which the Missouri senator agreed to do to help shepherd the proposal through a committee vote.
Hawley's decision didn't land well with the White House, and the Office of Legislative Affairs immediately pushed back and started lobbying against the bill, according to Axios. Hawley denied reports of a White House pushback against the bill, but Trump unleashed on the senator shortly after it passed out of committee.
"The Democrats, because of our tremendous ACHIEVEMENTS and SUCCESS, have been trying to 'Target' Me for a long period of time, and they're using Josh Hawley, who I got elected TWICE, as a pawn to help them," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"I wonder why Hawley would pass a Bill that Nancy Pelosi is in absolute love with — He is playing right into the dirty hands of the Democrats," Trump said. "It's a great Bill for her, and her 'husband,' but so bad for our Country!"
California Representative Pelosi, to whom the ban would apply, along with every other member of Congress, applauded the bill's passage out of committee in a statement on Wednesday.
"We must have strong transparency, robust accountability and tough enforcement for financial conduct in office because the American people deserve confidence that their elected leaders are serving the public interest — not their personal portfolios," the former House speaker said. "If legislation is advanced to help restore trust in government and ensure that those in power are held to the highest ethical standards, then I am proud to support it — no matter what they decide to name it."
"The HONEST Act, as amended, rightly applies its stock trading ban not only to Members of Congress, but now to the President and Vice President as well," she added. "I strongly support this legislation and look forward to voting for it on the Floor of the House."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "I don't think real Republicans want to see their President, who has had unprecedented success, TARGETED, because of the 'whims' of a second-tier Senator named Josh Hawley!"
Florida Senator Rick Scott said Wednesday, following Hawley's remarks: "He made a reference to billionaires, OK? I don't know when in this country it became a negative to make money. But somehow, if you've made money, you're supposedly—I think Senator Hawley suggests—you shouldn't be serving because you might trade stocks."
What Happens Next
Hawley and Democrats on the Homeland Security panel have pushed for the HONEST Act to get a vote on the floor of the Senate. It is not immediately clear whether the legislation will make it because opposition within the Republican Party to the ban remains strong. A similar bill passed the same committee in 2024 but did not advance.
Update 7/30/25, 5:35 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines