The Trader in the Oval Office
The Bulwark • • business
Key Points:
- Donald J. Trump, as president, engaged in extensive self-enrichment, including accepting gifts, litigating against the government, and profiting from foreign assets and organizations he controlled.
- In early 2026, Trump conducted over 3,600 stock trades worth up to $750 million, involving companies influenced by his administration's policies, particularly in technology, banking, and entertainment sectors.
- Vice President JD Vance denied Trump personally executed these trades, implying they were managed by others, but emphasized the transactions were still conducted in Trump's name and with his funds.
- Such trading practices resemble unethical behaviors historically seen in Congress, where officials trade stocks in companies they oversee, potentially exploiting insider knowledge for financial gain.
- Trump's situation is notable for the unprecedented scale and brazenness of his trading activity while in office, distinguishing it from typical political stock dealings.