Last week, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) published two Form 278-T disclosure reports covering Trump’s personal financial activity from January through March 2026. The documents, more than 100 pages, show more than 3,700 individual stock transactions. That’s more than 40 trades per market day across a three-month period.
I never really understood why insider trading is considered such a serious offense, especially when compared to everything else that happens in the American stock market.
At its core, the stock market already feels like a massive game dominated by extremely wealthy people. Some accounts probably have trillions in buying power. We allow advanced trading algorithms, automated stop-loss systems, high-frequency trading, and all kinds of software advantages. On top of that, literally anyone can jump into the market now, which floods it with emotional and inexperienced traders. That volatility itself creates opportunities for people with more capital and better tools.
So I do not know. Compared to the broader structure of the market and the level of manipulation and imbalance that already exists, insider trading feels like one of the least offensive things happening.
I don’t know either. But in this case, the combination of insider trading and the power to create the circumstances that enable your gains in the firstplace is absolutely nefarious.
Especially since it’s combined with a complete disregard for any collateral damage.
We can agree that everything you mentioned is bad. But why can’t all of it be regulated all at once together?
I think we already know the answer to it and it’s summed up in one word - corruption. With nuance it would be along the lines of perversion of a system meant to be fair - but those with power and wealth are absolutely playing dirty.
It absolutely needs a balance pass that is for sure. And the problem is it would put the bigger players at a disadvantage and really don’t want that.