Vance defends stock-trading spree in Trump financial filings: 'Come on, man'

Vice President JD Vance took a strong stance on Tuesday, defending President Donald Trump in light of concerns surrounding his recent stock trading activities, as revealed in financial disclosures that reported transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars over a short period. During a White House press briefing, Vance responded to a reporter's inquiry regarding the extensive trading activity, emphasizing that Trump does not personally manage his investments. "The president doesn’t sit in the Oval Office on his computer, buying and selling stocks. That’s absurd," he stated. Vance clarified that Trump relies on independent financial advisors to manage his wealth, highlighting the president's success in business. The financial filings, which were made public last Thursday, indicated over 3,700 transactions occurring within the first quarter of 2026. Notably, these included investments in companies that Trump has publicly endorsed, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. For instance, the disclosures showed that Trump purchased shares in Palantir, an artificial intelligence and government contracting firm, shortly before publicly praising it during a downturn in its stock prices. In response to the scrutiny, White House spokesman Davis Ingle reassured that Trump's assets are held in a trust managed by his children, claiming that there are no conflicts of interest involved. A representative for the Trump Organization further clarified that Trump's investments are entirely managed by third-party institutions, which have full authority over trading decisions without any input from Trump or his family. The reporter who raised the issue pointed out that public perception of Trump has increasingly leaned towards viewing him as corrupt, to which Vance humorously acknowledged the complexity of the question. When the reporter referenced Vance's previous support for banning stock trading among public officials, Vance reiterated his stance. He expressed a strong commitment to prohibiting such trading to prevent the misuse of privileged information gained through public service, aligning with the president's proposal to implement such a ban.