Tim Walz Urges Ban On Stock Trading By Trump, Members Of Congress: "You’re Not In Office To Get Wealthy"

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said President Donald Trump and members of Congress should be barred from trading individual stocks, arguing the practice erodes public trust at a time when confidence in institutions is fragile.

In a video posted on X on June 8, 2026, Walz highlighted data showing that lawmakers have historically outperformed the broader market, a pattern that raises concerns about whether elected officials may be benefiting from information unavailable to ordinary investors.

"Trump and members of Congress should not be trading stocks," Walz said. "You’re not in office to get wealthy. If you want to do that, go work in the private sector."

Walz called trading on privileged information "insidious," saying it "undermines faith in government" and "cheats the system." He also raised concerns about business ventures tied to members of the president’s family, pointing to investments linked to emerging industries such as drones and prediction markets as examples that can deepen public skepticism.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has separately questioned the timing of several of President Trump’s trades this year, noting investments in high-performing companies including Dell Technologies and Micron Technology and describing the pattern as an "absurd level of corruption."

Walz emphasized that the issue crosses party lines: Democratic lawmakers have also traded individual stocks, he noted, and that is why many advocates argue a stricter, bipartisan prohibition is needed to prevent conflicts of interest and preserve trust in government.

Efforts to ban individual stock trading by members of Congress have drawn support from lawmakers in both parties, but legislation aimed at restricting the practice has repeatedly stalled in Washington, D.C. The debate continues amid broader scrutiny of elected officials’ financial activities and calls for stronger ethics rules.

Why the Debate Matters

Proponents of a ban say it would eliminate even the appearance of impropriety and restore public confidence. Opponents argue that overly broad bans could discourage qualified candidates from public service or raise enforcement challenges. Lawmakers and watchdog groups continue to discuss compromises, such as restricting individual stock ownership while permitting diversified, blind-trust investments.

Source: Governor Tim Walz's video post on X (June 8, 2026); public statements from Sen. Elizabeth Warren; reporting on recent stock transactions.