Democrats accuse Trump of ‘market manipulation,’ hint at potential scandal

Democratic Senator Adam Schiff mentioned that the situation “raises grave legal and ethics concerns” and highlighted the importance of investigating any potential insider trading or illegal financial transactions involving Trump, his family, or administration officials. Schiff and Senator Ruben Gallego are pushing for a federal investigation to determine if there was any advanced knowledge of non-public information regarding changes to tariff policy that may have been used for financial gain.

In the wake of Trump’s announcement of the 90-day pause on trade tariffs, which led to a surge in the stock market, concerns have been raised about possible market manipulation and insider trading. While the White House officials have denied any wrongdoing, Democrats in Congress are calling for inquiries to scrutinize suspicious patterns and trading activities that took place in the lead-up to the tariff announcement.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed doubts about the timing of Trump’s remarks to “buy stocks” followed by the surprising tariff announcement. She, along with other Democratic lawmakers, want more transparency regarding the stock transactions made by members of Congress around that period. There are worries that some individuals may have exploited their positions for personal financial gain at the expense of the American public during a time of economic uncertainty.

Members of the House have written to House Speaker Mike Johnson to request that all House lawmakers disclose their trading activities from April 2-9 to ensure accountability and to determine if any representatives took advantage of their roles for personal enrichment. Such actions could severely erode public trust in government officials and raise serious ethical questions about financial impropriety in Congress.

The stock market frenzy triggered by Trump’s tariff pause prompted allegations of market manipulation and fraud. Lawmakers are particularly concerned about the potential for individuals to profit from non-public information or strategic political moves that impact markets. This situation underscores the need for thorough investigations and regulatory oversight to safeguard the integrity of financial markets and protect investors from abuse and exploitation by those in positions of power and influence.