“I Dare Him To Veto It”: Alex Padilla on Proposing a Ban on “Presidential and Congressional Stock Trading”

Senator Alex Padilla joined in the fun and is eager to challenge President Donald Trump to use his power for his proposals.

Senator Alex Padilla of California wants a ban on stock trading by presidents and members of Congress. He also wants President Donald Trump to be the one who blocks it. In a November 6, 2026 post on his X account, Padilla wrote:

“Let’s put a ban on presidential and congressional stock trading on his desk. I dare him to veto it.” 

Padilla reposted the dare with a direct challenge to Trump’s veto power. The line echoed the last item on a list Senator Tammy Duckworth posted the same day. Out of all the possible proposals, this is the one Alex Padilla is most excited about.

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Senator Alex Padilla Challenges President Donald Trump To Use His Veto Power

Alex Padilla, a former California secretary of state, has served in the Senate since 2021. He is the ranking member of the Rules and Administration Committee. In July, he tried twice to pass a bipartisan trading ban by unanimous consent. Republicans blocked both requests. On September 30, he helped reject a House-passed version, calling its voter ID language a “poison pill.” That bill also exempted the president, a flaw Padilla called disqualifying. His dare flips the burden onto Trump: pass a real ban, then force him to sign or veto it.

President Trump has promised to become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats win Congress. He expects to veto bills for “a month or two” before cutting deals. Duckworth went further the same day. Her list included the Iran war, Medicaid cuts, and ACA tax credits. It also covered tariffs, data center costs, and stock trading. The senator’s post leaves the door open for others to take it up.

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