Trump Targets Nancy Pelosi in State of the Union Push for Insider‑Trading Ban

President Trump used his record‑breaking State of the Union address to press lawmakers to pass the Stop Insider Trading Act and directly called out nancy pelosi by name, a moment that drew visible reaction on the House floor. The exchange matters because the bill has already cleared a House committee and would change reporting and trading rules for members, their spouses and dependent children.

Nancy Pelosi Confronted in the Chamber

During the address the president urged Congress to "pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay" and, after members of both parties rose to applaud, asked aloud, "Did Nancy Pelosi stand up — if she’s here? Doubt it. " The former House speaker glared at the president and was seen sitting next to Rep. Ro Khanna (D‑Calif. ), taking notes as the exchange unfolded. Critics have frequently pointed to Pelosi family financial disclosures in calls for stricter limits, and Republicans have long needled Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D‑Calif. ) over well‑timed stock trades by her husband.

Stop Insider Trading Act and Rep. Bryan Steil

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—specifically mandating a seven‑day public notice prior to selling a stock. Supporters say the measure aims to go beyond the 2012 STOCK Act’s reporting requirements. The bill has cleared a House committee and is awaiting a full vote in the lower chamber.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s Standing Ovation

One of the more striking moments came when Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D‑Mass. ), a noted critic of the president, rose to give a standing ovation after Trump pressed for the Stop Insider Trading Act. Warren has long backed similar legislation, and other Democrats also stood and applauded the proposal—an action the president pointed to as proof of bipartisan concern. What makes this notable is that the applause crossed typical partisan lines, highlighting the bill’s rare bipartisan traction during a highly partisan address.

House Reaction: Committee Vote, Ejections and Interruptions

Beyond applause for the anti‑trading proposal, the speech featured sporadic disruption from Democrats. Reps. Al Green (D‑Texas), Ilhan Omar (D‑Minn. ) and Rashida Tlaib (D‑Mich. ) interrupted the president; Omar and Tlaib left the chamber after repeated heckling. Green was ejected for the second year in a row, this time for waving a sign that read, "Black People Aren’t Apes!"—a jab tied to the president’s Truth Social posting debacle earlier this month. For the most part, Democrats sat through the address with limited applause, though they rose for certain moments including a line on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Pelosi’s Profile and Public Reaction

Quiver Quantitative places Pelosi’s personal net worth at more than $269 million, a figure that has been cited by critics in debates over congressional trading. The president’s rebuke touched on that long‑running tension, referencing the Pelosi family’s financial disclosures. The moment generated social media attention: commentator Guy Benson posted, "lol the Pelosi ad lib, " columnist Josh Hammer wrote, "LMAO at Trump’s callout of Pelosi on insider trading, " and Curtis Houck commented, "LOL Trump is the funniest President of all time, zero debate. " Her office was contacted for comment following the address.

Other SOTU Policies: Retirement Proposal

Alongside the push for the Stop Insider Trading Act, the president announced a new retirement savings proposal aimed at workers without access to employer matching. He said the federal government would match contributions up to $1, 000 a year so more Americans could benefit from market gains. The retirement plan was presented as part of a broader economic pitch that included the anti‑trading legislation.

Reporter Andrew Mark Miller and Morgan Phillips contributed to coverage of the address. The exchange over insider trading put a spotlight on a pending measure that has cleared a committee and forced lawmakers to reckon publicly with questions about equity, disclosure rules and who should be allowed to trade while holding public office.