According to a rumor that users shared online in April 2025, lifestyle entrepreneur, TV personality and author Martha Stewart was the author of a quote comparing her past criminal convictions to allegations of U.S. President Donald Trump's second administration engaging in insider trading. Several Snopes readers asked if this was true.
On April 10, 2025, a writer named James O'Brien posted (archived) a photo of Stewart posing in front of a brick wall and holding a glass of white wine. The post received around 65,000 likes and featured the following quote:
Hi, I'm Martha Stewart, and I'm here to remind you that if a successful woman takes advantage of an investment tip, the press destroys her, and the court throws her a** in prison. But if a six-time-bankrupt felon with sieg-heiling supporters and a hard-on for Russian tyranny does it, the press elevates him to Crazy Wizard of Our Times, and nothing else f***ing happens. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
Other users shared the fake quote on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and TikTok.
(James O'Brien/Threads)
Some users asked whether Stewart truly originated the quote, or at least indicated they believed she did. However, O'Brien responded to each and every one of those users to notify them he created the quote as satire — meaning Stewart did not say or write the words.
One Threads user asked, "Was this written by you, James? It is getting quoted all over the internet as being a quote by Martha Stewart. Wish it was, but what is the true source?" O'Brien responded, "A work of satire dashed off from my keyboard in a morning of frustration and it's been living a life of its own. Hopefully, the numerous disclaimers that it is satirical are seen as well. But we can stand by its truth, if we like."
A representative for Stewart did not yet respond to a request for comment on the rumor, nor did O'Brien respond to an Instagram message seeking further comment.
Stewart's past charges and convictions
The satirical quote's mention of a court sending a successful woman to prison referenced Stewart's past criminal convictions involving an insider-trading scandal — though a court did not specifically convict her of insider trading or securities fraud.
On June 5, 2003, The New York Times reported a federal grand jury indicted Stewart on charges of securities fraud, making false statements and obstruction of justice for her handling of a stock trade. Around the same time, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit charging Stewart and her stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, with "committing securities fraud by engaging in illegal insider trading."
On March 5, 2004, following a brief trial, a jury convicted Stewart, finding her guilty of conspiracy, obstruction and two counts of lying to federal investigators. People.com reported, "However, the most serious criminal charge against her — securities fraud — was previously dismissed by the judge." Her sentencing included five months in prison, five months of home confinement and two years of supervised probation.
In 2006, Stewart settled with the SEC, agreeing to pay $195,000 in fines and penalties. The agreement barred her from leading a public company for five years.
Insider trading allegations involving Trump
Like Stewart, Trump is also a convicted felon — a first for a U.S. president. His criminal conviction came in May 2024, when a New York jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Separate from Trump's criminal conviction, the satirical quote's reference to the president regarded congressional Democrats' April 2025 allegations that Trump's second administration engaged in insider trading related to his pause on tariffs.
An article about the allegations from Politico cited "a lack of evidence of wrongdoing," noting of a Trump Truth Social post from April 9:
Trump on Wednesday morning posted to Truth Social that it was a "GREAT TIME TO BUY" despite the chaos within the financial markets. Hours later, Trump announced he was pausing the most sweeping global tariffs for 90 days, causing a temporary but dramatic stock market rally.
Some Democrats quickly questioned whether there was financial gain to be had amid the market whiplash, though no evidence has emerged of insider trading or other wrongdoing, and top party leaders have now followed suit.
In the latest salvo, Schumer joined Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Schumer in requesting SEC Chair Paul Atkins to launch an investigation into whether Trump or those around him "engaged in insider trading, market manipulation, or other securities laws violations."
Per Politico, White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai in a statement accused Democrats of "playing partisan games." Desai's statement also alleged that Trump's post sought "to reassure the markets and Americans about their economic security in the face of nonstop media fearmongering." Snopes requested the original statement provided to Politico from the White House but did not yet receive a response.
For further reading, a fact check from 2018 examined a rumor claiming Stewart said she would not accept a presidential pardon from Trump.