Trump Calls Out Ally Hawley Over Stock Trading Bill

Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician who has served as the 45th and 47th president of the United States. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School with a degree in economics in 1968 and took over his family’s real estate business in 1971, renaming it the Trump Organization. Over decades, he expanded the company’s holdings into skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses, building a high-profile brand often associated with luxury and real estate development. Trump also gained fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015[1][3][7]. Trump entered politics as a Republican and won the presidency in 2016, defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton in an unexpected victory. His tenure from 2017 to 2021 was marked by significant policy shifts, including tightening immigration controls, imposing a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, expanding the U.S.–Mexico border wall, rolling back environmental regulations, implementing major tax cuts, and appointing three Supreme Court justices. His foreign policy included withdrawing the U.S. from international agreements on climate change and Iran’s nuclear program, and initiating a trade war with China. Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was widely criticized for downplaying the virus's severity. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, he challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Trump was impeached twice but acquitted both times by the Senate[1][2]. In a historic political comeback, Trump was re-elected and inaugurated for a second non-consecutive term on January 20, 2025, becoming the oldest president to assume office at age 78. He remains a highly influential and polarizing figure in American politics[2][7]. Trump is married to Melania Trump, with whom he has one son, Barron, and has four adult children from previous marriages. He has authored several books, including *The Art of the Deal*, a business bestseller[3][5][7].

Joshua David Hawley, born December 31, 1979, in Springdale, Arkansas, and raised in Lexington, Missouri, is a Republican U.S. Senator from Missouri serving since 2019.[1][2][3] He graduated from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, earned a history degree with highest honors from Stanford University in 2002, and received a law degree from Yale Law School in 2006.[2][3][8] Hawley's early career included clerkships for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Michael W. McConnell (2006–07) and Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. (2007–08), followed by private practice in Washington, D.C.[1][2] From 2011 to 2015, he worked for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, co-counseling in Supreme Court cases like *Burwell v. Hobby Lobby* (protecting religious objections to contraceptive mandates) and *Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church v. EEOC* (safeguarding church hiring rights).[1][3][4] He also taught as an associate professor at the University of Missouri School of Law.[1][2] Elected Missouri's 42nd Attorney General in 2016, Hawley pursued high-profile actions, including lawsuits against the Affordable Care Act, investigations into Governor Eric Greitens and opioid companies, crackdowns on human trafficking, and probes of Google.[2][4] In 2018, he defeated incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill to enter the Senate, securing reelection in 2024 against Lucas Kunce.[1][2] As senator, Hawley has championed populist conservative causes: protecting workers from Chinese trade practices and offshoring, confronting Big Tech and Wall Street, advocating online child protections, pushing direct COVID-19 payments, and defending First and Second Amendment rights.[3][4] He opposed Trump judicial nominee Michael Bogren in 2019 over alleged anti-religious views.[2] Hawley drew controversy for objecting to the 2020 election certification, raising fraud claims post-January 6 Capitol riot, where he was photographed raising a fist to protesters.[1][5][6] His term extends to 2030.[5]

Richard Burr, born November 30, 1955, in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a former American Republican politician from North Carolina.[3][4] Raised in Winston-Salem, he worked as a sales manager at Carswell Distributing Company before entering politics, inspired by his father, a pastor.[1] Burr first ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 1992 but won North Carolina's 5th congressional district seat in 1994, serving until 2005 with strong reelection margins over 62% each time.[3][1] In 2004, he successfully ran for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by John Edwards, taking office in 2005 and winning reelection in 2010 and 2016.[3] As North Carolina's senior senator, Burr chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee, focusing on national security and intelligence matters.[3] He emphasized conservative principles, advocating free-market solutions for issues like education—particularly low high school graduation rates—and entitlement reforms.[1] Burr supported President Trump early on but broke ranks notably during Trump's second impeachment trial in 2021, voting to convict him of inciting the January 6 Capitol riot, citing Trump's responsibility for promoting unfounded election fraud claims.[2][3] This drew censure from the North Carolina Republican Party.[3] In 2016, after reelection, Burr announced he would not seek a fourth term. He retired from the Senate in January 2023, succeeded by Ted Budd.[3] As of 2026, Burr remains a retired figure, with no current elected roles, though his impeachment vote retains partisan relevance.[2][3]