Trump calls out Nancy Pelosi as he urges Stop Insider Trading Act; nancy pelosi singled out in SOTU jab

President Trump used his State of the Union to press Congress to "pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay" and directly targeted nancy pelosi with a mocking aside, thrusting renewed attention onto longstanding questions about congressional stock trading and the Pelosi family's financial disclosures.

Trump’s SOTU plea and the standing-room reaction

During the record-breaking State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, Trump urged lawmakers to "pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay, " saying, "Let’s also ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider information. " Those remarks prompted members of both parties to stand, and Trump exclaimed, "They stood up for that. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it. "

Nancy Pelosi singled out in chamber and visible reactions

Trump then called out Nancy Pelosi by name, asking, "Did Nancy Pelosi stand up — if she’s here? Doubt it. " The former House speaker, identified in the chamber as a California Democrat and Speaker Emerita, glared at the president after the broadside. She sat next to Rep. Ro Khanna of California and was seen taking notes during the speech.

Details of the Stop Insider Trading Act and its scope

The Stop Insider Trading Act, introduced by Rep. Bryan Steil, would ban members of Congress, their spouses and dependent children from purchasing publicly traded stocks and would require advance public notice before any sale. One description of the measure says it would mandate a seven-day public notice before selling off a stock, and supporters say it aims to go beyond the 2012 STOCK Act’s reporting requirements.

Democratic applause, Elizabeth Warren and the mixed reception

One striking moment came when Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, described as a progressive icon and one of the president’s fiercest critics in the Senate, rose to give a standing ovation after the Stop Insider Trading Act line; Warren has long backed similar legislation. Other Democrats also stood and drew notice, and Warren was again seen standing after Trump said Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. For the most part, many Democrats sat through the address in visible distress, rarely clapping.

Financial disclosures, criticisms and political context

Critics have frequently cited the Pelosi family's financial disclosures in calls for stricter limits on congressional stock trading. Republicans have long needled Rep. Nancy Pelosi over well-timed trades her husband has made over the years, and Pelosi is listed as having a net worth of more than $269 million. The president’s dig was cast by some as part of a longstanding feud: in the prior State of the Union in 2020, Pelosi infamously tore up the president’s speech in full view of the cameras.

Disruptions, ejections and social-media reactions

The address saw interruptions from several House Democrats, with Reps. Al Green of Texas, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan repeatedly heckling the president. For the second year in a row, Green was ejected from the House chamber during the speech after waving a sign that read, "Black People Aren’t Apes, " a gesture framed as a jab at the president’s Truth Social posting debacle earlier this month. Omar and Tlaib left early after repeated heckling.

The moment calling out Pelosi also drew attention on social media. Guy Benson posted, "lol the Pelosi ad lib, " one commentator wrote "LMAO at Trump’s callout of Pelosi on insider trading, " and another posted, "LOL Trump is the funniest President of all time, zero debate. " Pelosi's office was contacted for comment.

Other SOTU proposals and coverage contributors

Alongside the anti–insider-trading pitch, the president announced a retirement savings proposal that would have the federal government match contributions up to $1, 000 a year for workers without access to employer matching. Coverage of the address included contributions from Morgan Phillips, and Andrew Mark Miller is identified as a reporter who contributed to reporting on the event.