Days before Trump’s order to launch the drones that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani was carried out, the U.S. president was reportedly dropping hints to his Mar-a-Lago guests that “something big was about to happen in Iran.”
In separate reports following the killing of the Iranian general, the stock market reported that while a range of major indices showed a sharp decline in stock market performance, there was a corollary surge in the trading of defense stocks.
Stock market analysts noted that contrary to historical trends, defense stock trading usually doubles within six months after a critical Middle East event had transpired. Yet a week after the so-called big Iran-event that Trump hinted to his Florida resort guests, trading immediately saw stocks of aerospace and defense weapons companies taking palce vigorously.
Did Mar-a-Lago Guests Benefit from Trump’s Hints
Now, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Van Hollen, are calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate if Trump’s Mar-a-Lago hints to his guests, prompted the massive trading of defense stocks; on whether the Mar-a-Lago guests are among those who benefited from the strong trading of defense stocks a few days after Trump’s Iran order was carried out.
In a letter which the Democratic presidential contender addressed to the SEC and the Commodities Futures Chairmen, she and Senator Van Hollen called for an investigation to determine if President Trump’s handling of sensitive and classified national security information did not result to insider trading.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland is a prominent member of a Senate subcommittee overseeing investments and securities.