It’s hard to ignore how often US markets seem to move just before major announcements. Sharp dumps followed by sudden official statements, with huge trading volume appearing right before the news hits,it feels far too consistent to be a coincidence. The announcement comes, prices pump, and someone’s already positioned perfectly.
Many are pointing to suspicious stock trades timed just before major market-moving announcements, like Trump’s tariff decisions. Reports show Dan Scavino, a Trump aide, sold Trump Media stock worth up to $10 million the day before Trump’s tariff announcement on April 8, 2025, which tanked markets by 12%. Sergio Gor also sold $15K–$50K in Trump Media stock days prior. No direct proof of insider information, but ethics experts call it suspicious.
There are also claims of unusual trading volume before announcements, suggesting someone knew something early. For instance, right before tariff news, major trades were reported, with Wall Street and political figures allegedly getting a heads-up. Trump himself posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” on Truth Social before announcing a tariff pause, leading to a 9.5% S&P 500 surge and a ~19% jump in his company’s stock. Critics, including Senators Gallego and Schiff, have called for investigations into possible insider trading.
Lawmakers like Nancy Pelosi have already faced scrutiny for suspiciously timed trades, with reports of 54% investment returns. Public pressure is growing to ban congressional stock trading due to access to nonpublic information. Proving insider trading is tough, courts have narrowed what counts as unlawful, and officials often claim no insider knowledge. Still, these trades undermine trust in both government and markets.
