Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith challenged Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) during a recent interview over President Donald Trump’s stock trading activity, pressing the Florida congresswoman on what he described as a double standard regarding financial trades made by elected officials.
The exchange took place on Smith’s show Straight Shooter with Stephen A., where the two were discussing stock trading by members of Congress. In recent months, Trump has faced accusations that he has used his position as president to enrich himself through stock trades.
According to the discussion, there have been numerous instances in which Trump purchased stock in a specific company before publicly praising it, with those public statements allegedly contributing to an increase in the company’s stock price.
During the interview, Luna focused her criticism on lawmakers serving on congressional committees, arguing that some members have profited by trading stocks connected to defense contractors while major international conflicts continue.
“What I will also tell you is I sit here, and on a regular basis, I am seeing that members that are sitting on committees of jurisdiction are making a lot of money because they are trading in the same defense contractor spaces that a lot of these wars are being funded by,” Luna said. She added that those lawmakers have “no reason or incentive” to stop and reconsider their actions.
Smith quickly interrupted, asking whether members of Congress were simply following the example set by the president.
“But aren’t mimicking the president?” Smith asked. “Aren’t they mimicking the president?”
Luna responded that she was not familiar with Trump’s personal stock trades but shifted the conversation to the president’s foreign policy efforts.
“I don’t know about the president’s personal stock trades,” Luna replied. “But what I will say is with the president, you have him saying, ‘We need to actually engage in a peace talk.’”
She pointed to Trump’s efforts involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a proposal that she said had been pitched to both Ukraine and Russia by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Luna argued that Trump has been advocating for an end to the war, adding that she does not see members of Congress making similar efforts.
“So, for example, bringing over Zelensky, meeting with Vladimir Putin, offering a plan that Witkoff and Kushner have both pitched to Ukraine and Russia and actually saying this war needs to end,” Luna said. “I don’t see members of Congress doing that.”
Smith acknowledged Luna’s point but remained unconvinced by her response, insisting that it did not address his concerns about Trump’s trading activity.
“Hold on, let me interrupt,” Smith said. “I got that. I believe that. I got that. But my goodness, come on! I mean, if anybody got common sense, it’s you!”
Smith then argued that Trump’s extensive trading activity raises concerns about how investors may interpret the president’s actions.
“The man has been trading—I mean, this dude has over 21,000 trades,” Smith said. “Think about the things that he has been doing, not just cryptocurrency.”
He concluded by suggesting that observers could believe Trump’s market activity has the potential to influence investors.
“I’m just saying, he’s been engaging in a lot of activity, so chances are people are looking at what he’s doing and saying, ‘Follow the money. He can manipulate the market.’”
READ MORE: Don Lemon Says He’s ‘Seriously’ Considering 2028 White House Bid]
