Two United States politicians executed eyebrow-raising stock transactions around the period when President Donald Trump was preparing to announce his sweeping global trade tariffs.
Indeed, the outcome of these ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs has devastated the market, which has recorded its worst performance since the 2020 pandemic era.
Looking at the Congress’ trades in question, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Senator Tommy Tuberville executed transactions that might raise questions about potential foreknowledge of market-moving policy decisions.
Receive Signals on US Congress Members' Stock Trades
Stay up-to-date on the trading activity of US Congress members. The signal triggers based on updates from the House disclosure reports, notifying you of their latest stock transactions.
Rep. Greene’s well-timed trade
Details of the trade indicate that on March 7, 2025, Greene purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of Dollar General (NYSE: DG) stock, a major American retail chain.
The trade, disclosed on March 9, 2025, has seemingly paid off, with the equity moving counter to the market’s downward trajectory.
At press time, DG was trading at $92.62, meaning that since the lawmaker’s acquisition, the equity has risen by over 13%. To put this growth into perspective, the benchmark S&P 500 has declined by 12.08% over the same period.
Notably, with its focus on low-cost goods, Dollar General may have been poised to benefit from tariffs that could drive consumers toward more affordable retail options.
One impact of the tariffs is analyst warnings that the situation might lead to inflation, which would push users to affordable options.
At the same time, critics could argue that Greene’s position in the House might have given her access to early information about the tariff plans, potentially influencing her decision to invest in DG.
The Dollar General transaction is among Greene’s most recent stock purchases, adding more equities to her portfolio, including Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).
In 2025, the lawmaker has generally been on a stock-buying spree, with some of her high-profile purchases, including Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), witnessing massive losses.
Senator Tuberville Apple stock trade
On the other hand, on January 10, 2025, Senator Tuberville sold between $15,001 and $50,000 worth of AAPL stock, a transaction disclosed on February 14, 2025.
The sale, executed through a joint account, proved well-timed. Since Tuberville’s trade, Apple has plummeted by 20.46%.
Over the same period, the S&P 500 has declined 12.81%. At the close of the April 4 session, Apple was valued at $188.38, down over 7%.
Tuberville’s decision to sell Apple stock just before a significant market downturn, partially attributed to Trump’s tariff policies affecting tech companies, raises questions.
Apple, a firm heavily reliant on global supply chains, is particularly vulnerable to tariffs, with analysts warning that the situation could lead to a decline in the company’s revenues.
As previously reported by Finbold, Tuberville has been involved in several suspicious stock transactions. For instance, in late 2024, the politician sold $530,000 worth of stocks across various sectors.
Featured image via Shutterstock
