President Donald Trump is facing growing scrutiny after a series of events that have sparked allegations of insider trading and market manipulation. The controversy erupted following a tweet from Trump urging his followers to "buy," just hours before he announced a suspension of tariffs — a move that sent financial markets soaring.
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) was quick to voice concern on social media, stating: “Trump's 9:30 am tweet makes it clear he was eager for his people to make money off the private info only he knew. So, who knew ahead of time and how much money did they make?”
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The sequence of events has prompted Democratic lawmakers to demand an investigation. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), a prominent voice on national security and ethics issues, called for a formal probe into the potential misuse of privileged information.
“There is far too much opportunity for insider trading within this administration,” Schiff said in a televised interview. “And I have no reason to believe they wouldn't take advantage of that. We need to know who knew in advance that the president was going to change his stance on tariffs—and who profited from it.”
Schiff emphasized the need for transparency, adding that he would be formally requesting information from the White House. He acknowledged the likelihood that the administration might stall or deflect, but insisted that the truth would eventually come to light.
“The American people deserve to know who’s enriching themselves while others lose savings, retirements, and jobs,” he said.
“This administration has been knee-deep in conflicts of interest—meme coins, shady deals, and a climate of impunity. We have every reason to assume the worst.”
The allegations were further fueled by Trump's own remarks during a televised appearance, where he appeared to boast about how the market turmoil—triggered in part by his own policy decisions—was benefiting his associates. According to Trump, investor Charles Schwab made "$2.5 billion in a single day" from the market drop.
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Critics argue this is not just reckless, but outright corruption. As everyday Americans face economic uncertainty, job loss, and dwindling retirement funds, Trump’s apparent pride in the financial windfalls of his wealthy inner circle has been described as "cynical" and "un-American."
“This isn’t just irresponsibility,” Schiff concluded. “It’s proof: Trump isn’t working for America. He’s working for himself and those who stand to profit from chaos.”
Calls for an independent investigation are gaining traction in Congress, as lawmakers on both sides weigh the implications of a president leveraging private information for personal or political gains.
Interestingly, billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya - a Trump supporter - claims in an interview with Andrew Schultz that "It's more than a trade war... Trump is completely redistributing American wealth." The gamble is concerning at least $750 billion, according to him.
The White House has yet to respond to the allegations.
Here’s an NBC News video of the story.
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