In a rare moment of unity during President Donald Trumps State of the Union address, both Republicans and Democrats briefly rose to their feet when he demanded an end to insider trading in Congress.
The reaction, according to Western Journal, was striking enough that even progressive firebrand Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts stood in support, prompting Trump to quip from the podium, Did Nancy Pelosi stand up, if shes here? Doubt it. The former House speaker, a California Democrat whose stock trades have long raised ethical questions, appeared less than enthusiastic, and her subsequent attempt to explain herself on CNN only deepened the sense that the political class is uncomfortable with serious reform.
Trumps address, the first official State of the Union of his second term, was marked by visible Democratic resistance, with members of the left flank remaining seated through much of a policy agenda that polls show is broadly popular with voters. One of the few lines that broke through that partisan wall came when the president vowed to ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider information, a promise that resonates with Americans who believe Washington has been enriching itself at their expense.
They stood up for that. I cant believe it. I cant believe it, Trump said, as cameras cut to Warren rising in applause, underscoring how politically toxic congressional self-dealing has become. He then pressed lawmakers to pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay, signaling that, at least from the White House, there is an appetite to close the loopholes that have allowed members of Congress to trade on privileged information while ordinary citizens play by a different set of rules.
The presidents pointed reference to Pelosi was not accidental, given her long history of well-timed trades and her familys extraordinary wealth accumulation during her years in leadership. Appearing on CNN after the speech, Pelosi responded with a meandering defense that did little to dispel concerns, telling the panel, I say back to him, as thats what members said look at your own self.
The inference he wants to draw is that there was something wrong with that, and there wasnt, she insisted, before conceding that enforcement already exists: And if there was, people get prosecuted for it. For a long time now, theyve been trying to pass this law. Her comments suggested that, in her view, existing mechanisms are sufficient, even as public frustration grows over how rarely powerful officials face real accountability for financial misconduct.
It doesnt have now it has more support than it did before. And, I, uh Pelosi trailed off, appearing to struggle to articulate a clear position as the conversation turned to the political optics of the moment. CNN anchor Kasie Hunt cut in to note the contrast, saying, Elizabeth Warren stood up and applauded. Elizabeth Warren stood and applauded tonight when the president talked about it.
Well, we all did. I did, too, Pelosi replied, attempting to align herself with the bipartisan applause that viewers had just witnessed. He said, Did Nancy stand up? Yeah, I did, too. A lot of people stood up. A lot of Democrats stood up.
I think that will pass depending on what the bill is, she added, a qualifier that will not be lost on voters who have watched reform efforts watered down in backroom negotiations. For many conservatives, that hedging encapsulates the broader problem in Washington: public displays of support for ethics reforms, followed by quiet resistance once the cameras are off and donors and lobbyists reassert their influence.
Pelosis record remains central to this debate, as her financial dealings have drawn scrutiny since her early days as Democratic leader, only intensifying during her second speakership when trades were frequently executed in the name of her husband, Paul Pelosi. Her retirement at the end of her current term does not erase the questions surrounding how a career public servant amassed a fortune that would be the envy of many corporate executives.
Pelosi is worth $267.6 million, according to a February 2025 report by NewsNation, with holdings in tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Netflix and household assets exceeding $92 million. As Congress now faces pressure to act on Trumps call to pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay, the contrast between the political classs wealth and the economic struggles of ordinary Americans will continue to fuel demands for genuine reform rather than rhetorical gestures.
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