In a striking rebuke of one of his closest political allies, President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday reportedly tore into Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) for supporting a Democrat-led bill that would bar lawmakers—and future presidents and vice presidents—from trading stocks while in office.
The measure, which passed narrowly out of committee on an 8-7 vote, saw Hawley as the only Republican siding with Democrats.
“Why would one ‘Republican,’ Senator Josh Hawley from the Great State of Missouri, join with all of the Democrats to block a Review, sponsored by Senator Rick Scott, and with the support of almost all other Republicans, of Nancy Pelosi’s Stock Trading over the last 25 years?” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The information was inappropriately released just minutes before the Vote — Very much like SABOTAGE!”
The proposed legislation, advanced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Hawley, expands existing restrictions by applying them not only to members of Congress and their spouses but also to future presidents and vice presidents.
While seemingly aimed at reform, critics on the right see the bill as a political weapon disguised as ethics legislation.
Trump initially expressed openness to the idea of restricting stock trading for lawmakers, saying he liked it “conceptually.” But he quickly shifted his tone, unleashing a broadside against the bill’s timing, motivation, and key Republican supporter.
“What I do think is Nancy Pelosi should be investigated,” Trump said, pointing to the former Speaker’s eyebrow-raising investment returns. “She has the highest return of anybody practically in the history of Wall Street, save a few. And how did that happen?”
While there’s no formal evidence of wrongdoing, Pelosi and her husband have long been targets of Republican scrutiny for well-timed stock trades that critics argue raise questions about insider access.
Trump’s frustration appeared to center on what he sees as Hawley’s betrayal—not only of his political benefactor, but of the conservative base.
“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.
He added: “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. It’s a great Bill for her, and her ‘husband,’ but so bad for our Country!”
The bill, which was stripped of its original Pelosi-referencing name, was also amended before the vote to include a stock trading ban on the executive branch—an expansion that was reportedly added without wider Republican consultation.
Before the vote, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) had urged Hawley to work collaboratively to strengthen the legislation.
Instead, Hawley pushed through changes with Democrats that raised concern among conservatives that the bill was less about reform and more about political posturing—possibly at the expense of Trump himself.
“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!” Trump concluded.
[READ MORE: Josh Hawley Comes Under Fire From Trump]
