Trump's Dell, Walmart Endorsements Stir Ethics Concerns Over $1 Million Stock Trades
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Jul 14
Trump's Dell, Walmart Endorsements Stir Ethics Concerns Over $1 Million Stock Trades
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Jul 14
Summary
Ethics lawyers and watchdog groups say Trump's recent praise of Dell and Walmart raises conflict concerns because he also traded their shares, including at least $1 million of Dell stock bought in February.
Three Dell endorsements in five months — including an Oval Office call to "buy a Dell computer" — came after Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to Trump Accounts, deepening concerns that presidential favor could reward allies.
Trump disclosed selling $50,000 to $100,000 of Dell shares in April, while the Trump Organization says outside brokerages control the trades and White House aides defended his praise of the Dells.
Limits on enforcement sharpen the dispute: executive-branch ethics rules do not cover the president, and lawyers said the Supreme Court's Trump v. United States immunity ruling makes motive-based claims harder to pursue.