On Monday night, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired back at Marjorie Taylor Greene following a shocking revelation.
It was reported that Greene made a series of large stock purchases just hours before President Donald Trump announced a significant tariff pause.
This sparked outrage, especially given Ocasio-Cortez’s previous calls for a deeper investigation into potential insider trading within Congress, particularly in relation to the fluctuating tariffs.
The Question on Everyone’s Mind
At one of her co-headlined ‘Fight Oligarchy’ events in Idaho with Bernie Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back.
Addressing the issue directly, she demanded to know just how much Greene profited from the crisis, asking pointedly, “How much did you make off of people’s despair? How much did you make off of that panic?
How much did you make off of that suffering?” It was clear that Ocasio-Cortez wanted accountability for what appeared to be a case of opportunistic trading amid market turmoil.
Hakeem Jeffries Joins the Criticism
Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t the only prominent Democrat calling out Greene.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries took aim at the MAGA ally during an interview with Jen Psaki.
Referring to Greene as “Exhibit A,” Jeffries didn’t mince words, labeling many of these individuals as “crooks, liars, and frauds.”
He emphasized the need for reform, stating that he would push to make it illegal for sitting members of Congress to trade stocks, given the clear conflicts of interest that were unfolding.
Market Chaos and Trump’s Tariff U-Turn
The timing of Greene’s stock purchases couldn’t have been more controversial.
Just days before, the stock market had suffered one of its worst losses in history, with Wall Street losing a staggering $6.6 trillion in value.
On April 4, as the market plummeted, the S&P 500 dropped nearly 6%, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones also saw significant losses.
However, just five days later, Trump made a dramatic announcement that sent the stock market surging.
On April 9, he posted on Truth Social: “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” He revealed that while tariffs on Chinese imports would remain high, other tariffs would be reduced, and there would be a 90-day pause on the reciprocal tariffs.
Almost immediately, stocks began to climb, with the Nasdaq gaining more than 12% and the S&P 500 jumping by 10%, marking their biggest gains since the Great Recession.
The Call for Transparency
Following Trump’s announcement, Ocasio-Cortez took to social media, calling on Congress members to disclose their stock trades.
“Any member of Congress who purchased stocks in the last 48 hours should probably disclose that now,” she posted, adding that a deadline for such disclosures was approaching—May 15th.
She also reiterated her stance on banning insider trading within Congress, suggesting that transparency was long overdue.
Greene Responds to Stock Trade Allegations
Marjorie Taylor Greene, under pressure to disclose her stock activities, admitted to making the necessary filings, as required by law.
However, she defended her actions, explaining that she had signed a fiduciary agreement with a financial advisor who handles her investments.
In a statement, Greene emphasized that all her trades were reported transparently and that she refused to hide them in a blind trust, as many others do.
Despite her denials of wrongdoing, Greene’s stock buys—ranging from Apple to Merck & Company—raised eyebrows.
Her trades included large purchases in U.S. Treasury Bills, considered low-risk investments.
These types of investments were seen as a safer bet given the volatility in the market at the time.
The Controversial Timing of Greene’s Trades
Greene’s stock moves came just before the tariff announcement, when the market was experiencing a sharp downturn.
In the days leading up to the tariff declaration, the stock market had been reeling, with concerns that the tariffs could drive up prices on everyday goods like groceries, clothing, and electronics.
These fears were echoed within the Republican Party, as the tariff situation became a hot topic heading into the midterm elections.
Trump, who had initially sparked fears with his tariff policies, later downplayed the situation.
In response to questions about the market’s response, he acknowledged the concerns but insisted that the “big move” was the pause itself, claiming it would lead to America’s “liberation” from bad trade deals.
The Need for Reform
Greene’s actions highlight a broader issue within Congress—members are allowed to trade stocks, but the rules around reporting are vague and often criticized.
While Congress members are required to disclose their stock trades within 30 days, they are permitted to report a range of dollar amounts rather than specific figures.
This loophole has led to calls for stronger regulations, including making stock trading illegal for sitting members of Congress altogether.
As this controversy continues to unfold, it seems that the pressure for reform is only growing, with Ocasio-Cortez and others pushing for greater transparency and accountability from their colleagues.
Will this lead to meaningful change, or will it just be another political scandal to watch unfold? Time will tell.