Republican Senator Josh Hawley on Thursday addressed a brief public dispute with President Donald Trump over a proposed bill banning stock trading for elected officials. The Missouri senator characterized the spat as a “misunderstanding” and confirmed that the two had spoken shortly after Trump publicly criticized him.
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Trump Accuses Hawley, Then Walks It Back
President Trump had initially lashed out at Hawley on Truth Social, calling him a “second-tier senator” for voting to advance the stock trading ban alongside Democrats. He suggested that the legislation would force him to sell personal assets like Mar-a-Lago and other properties.
However, according to Hawley, the President had been misinformed. “I said, ‘Well, that’s just false. It explicitly exempts you and all your assets,’” Hawley told reporters. After walking Trump through the bill’s details, Hawley said the president responded positively, saying, “Oh, OK, great. This is good.”
White House Supports the Core Idea
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the call between Trump and Hawley and stated that Trump does support the concept of preventing lawmakers from profiting off their public service. “The president supports the idea of ensuring that members of Congress and United States senators who are here for public service cannot enrich themselves,” she said.
Internal GOP Divide Over the Legislation
While the proposed legislation has gained bipartisan support, it has also exposed rifts within the Republican Party. Some GOP senators worry that banning stock trading could deter successful businesspeople from entering public service.
The bill proposes that elected officials divest from stocks, commodities, futures, options, and trusts at the beginning of their next term. Since Trump is term-limited, he would be exempt under the current version of the bill. However, an earlier draft could have impacted both Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
A 90-day provision in the bill, once enacted, would apply the stock trading ban to all current lawmakers and executive officials, including Trump and Vance.
Will the Bill Move Forward?
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed doubt that the legislation would advance to a full Senate vote anytime soon, suggesting the internal GOP disagreements could delay or derail progress.
Conclusion: Miscommunication Resolved, but Political Tensions Remain
The temporary fallout between Trump and Hawley over the stock trading ban was ultimately resolved, but the incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Republican Party about ethics, transparency, and financial freedom in public office. While both sides now appear aligned on banning congressional stock trading in principle, the path forward for the bill remains uncertain.