TRUMPER STOCK DUMPS – Insider Corruption?

Dan Scavino sold at least $1 million in Trump Media stock one day before a White House tariff announcement triggered a 20% plunge, raising serious insider trading concerns.

At a Glance

• Dan Scavino sold $1–5 million in Trump Media shares on April 1, 2025, one day before a major tariff policy was announced.
• The company’s stock dropped from $20.26 to $16.16 within a week following the “Liberation Day” tariffs.
• Deputy Chief of Staff Sergio Gor and Attorney General Pam Bondi also sold their shares ahead of or on the same day as the announcement.
• Lawmakers and watchdogs are calling for an investigation into possible insider trading by senior White House officials.

Market Maneuvers Inside the Trump White House

Dan Scavino, longtime Trump aide and current Deputy Chief of Staff, sold up to $5 million in Trump Media and Technology Group stock on April 1—just 24 hours before President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on foreign goods. The announcement, part of a broader “Liberation Day” economic offensive, sent markets tumbling and caused a rapid decline in Trump Media’s stock, from $20.26 to $16.16 in less than a week.

Sergio Gor, another White House insider and head of the Presidential Personnel Office, sold up to $50,000 in stock days earlier on March 27. But the most notable timing came from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who unloaded millions in shares on April 2—just hours before the official policy drop.

Watch a report: Insider trading? Trump scatters suspicious stock tip before …

All three individuals avoided steep paper losses by cashing out just before the tariffs’ market impact. Critics argue these sales were no coincidence, and instead represent a calculated maneuver by senior officials with advance knowledge of a market-moving policy shift.

Ethics on the Edge as Profits Pile Up

The episode has drawn condemnation from congressional Democrats, with Senator Adam Schiff and Representative Greg Casar calling for a formal investigation into what they’re calling the “TACO Trade”—a reference to the tariffs’ focus on Mexican imports. Schiff highlighted a now-infamous Truth Social post by Trump that preceded a temporary market rebound, suggesting “coordinated signaling” to manipulate stock valuations.

Scavino, who previously earned more than $860,000 in consulting fees from Trump Media, also sold shares in Robinhood concurrently, prompting ethics experts to raise alarms over the scope of his financial activity during sensitive economic announcements. Bondi, attempting to deflect criticism, claimed she ultimately lost money and blamed “financial illiteracy” among detractors for misconstruing her trades.

Despite legal compliance in terms of financial disclosures, the optics are unmistakable: White House insiders selling high just before policies crash their own stock’s value. The coordinated timing of these trades amid volatile economic policy changes has reignited calls for stronger regulations on government officials’ market activity.

Exploiting the Loopholes of Public Service

Critics say this is another example of systemic failure to enforce ethical boundaries in government. While there’s no confirmed legal breach yet, watchdogs emphasize that mere disclosure isn’t enough when public trust is on the line. Internal White House planning for the tariffs—especially their known market ramifications—was likely underway for weeks. That gave key insiders time to assess risk, sell high, and leave others holding the bag.

What’s at stake isn’t just a few million dollars—it’s the credibility of policymaking in a government where financial self-interest and national economic policy are increasingly entwined. With calls mounting for SEC review and congressional hearings, the coming weeks could determine whether these trades were business as usual or the tip of a deeper scandal.

Congress now faces a pivotal test: will it finally crack down on profiteering from public office—or watch its own credibility sink with the stock price?