Hawley Discusses Stock Trading Ban with Trump

Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri has stated that despite President Donald Trump’s strong criticisms about his proposed bill to prohibit stock trading among government officials, he maintains a positive relationship with the president. Hawley believes they share a common objective in implementing such a ban.

On Thursday, Hawley mentioned to Fox News Digital, “The president and I had a really good conversation.” He added, indicating that Trump supports the initiative.

He clarified that the proposal initially aims to exclude the president and vice president but noted, “That’s going to be the next office holder.” Hawley further reminded that a similar approach was taken regarding Joe Biden, where a previous bill was passed setting a date for compliance when he assumed the presidency.

“So, while Trump and Vance aren’t included in this, all members of Congress would be,” Hawley explained, noting that while it’s not a complete bill, it’s still a significant effort.

Congress Committee Approves Stock Trading Ban

Hawley confirmed that the stock trading ban passed the committee without any resistance from the White House. Interestingly, the bill had shifted from originally being named the “Pelosi Act,” reflecting a bipartisan compromise that emerged with Senate Democrats supporting it—which had previously faced opposition, particularly from Trump and several Senate Republicans. The committee approved it with an 8-7 vote, with Hawley siding with the Democrats.

Following the vote, Trump criticized Hawley on social media, labeling him as a “Pawn” and a “Second-Tier” Senator, suggesting that Democrats are using him to target Trump.

Hawley responded, stating, “I want to ban this, so I do my job. I told my colleagues, but what I don’t do is create a consensus that kills the bill.”

Despite the pushback, Hawley reaffirmed his commitment to this initiative. However, he criticized the amendments proposed by Senator Rick Scott from Florida, which aimed to undermine the bill’s intent.

Contrasting Views on the Bill

Scott contended that Hawley worked alongside Democrats to undermine Trump. He labeled the bill as an unjust attack on the former president, pointing out that it was targeting him after multiple controversies. Meanwhile, Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin deemed Hawley’s support hypocritical, citing concerns regarding Pelosi’s past business dealings.

Some senators voiced frustrations about the bill’s structure, with Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma emphasizing that he wanted a clearer, more workable version. He expressed concerns about the prohibition of digital currencies, arguing that a refined approach was necessary.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky also expressed skepticism. He suggested that a good bill should apply universally, including to those like Trump who were exempted.

On the opposite side, Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania endorsed the bill, advocating for equitable treatment regarding stock trading among lawmakers.

In the end, Hawley expressed his desire to reach a consensus that could yield a law and acknowledged the progress made, noting, “I think something has passed, and I want something he can sign on.”