President Donald Trump called on Congress to quickly pass a law banning stock trading by lawmakers during his State of the Union address on February 25, 2026. He said the move would help fight corruption and rebuild public trust in government.
Trump endorsed the proposed Stop Insider Trading Act, which would prevent members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from buying publicly traded stocks. The bill would also require advance public disclosure of any stock sales. His comments drew rare bipartisan applause inside the chamber.
During the speech, Trump said lawmakers should not profit from insider information. He also made a pointed remark about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose husband’s stock trades have faced public scrutiny in recent years.
The bill has already passed a House committee but faces an uncertain future in Congress. Some lawmakers want broader reforms that include restrictions on executive branch officials, while others argue current rules under the STOCK Act are not strong enough.
Trump said Vice President JD Vance would lead a wider effort to crack down on fraud and government waste. He suggested that stronger enforcement could help reduce federal spending and improve financial accountability.
The president also outlined other economic proposals during his speech. He called for limits on large investment firms buying single-family homes, saying it makes housing less affordable for families. He also repeated his support for tariffs as a way to reduce reliance on income taxes.
Trump addressed the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence as well. He said major tech companies must pay for their own power infrastructure to avoid increasing electricity costs for households.
The speech, which lasted nearly one hour and 47 minutes, focused heavily on economic policy and ethics reforms. While supporters praised the anti-corruption message, critics questioned whether the proposals could pass Congress. The insider trading ban will now move forward for further debate, with no clear timeline for a final vote.
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