Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw complained about his low salary as a member of Congress and a new proposed law that would ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks.
Crenshaw was asked about the proposal to ban members from stock trading on The Free Press podcast on Tuesday with hosts Michael Moynihan and Batya Ungar-Sargon.
“Yeah. This is like number 1000 on my priority list of things to care about,’ Crenshaw said dismissing the idea.
The former US Navy SEAL officer lost an eye in combat and was first elected in 2019 as the representative of the second congressional district in Texas.
‘You know how much f***ing money I have ever had in the stock market? About $20,000,’ he said.
Crenshaw appeared cynical when he asked if he would support the legislation, but ultimately said he would.
‘We’ll just keep whipping ourselves,’ he said. ‘How about we don’t make any money either? How about, just cut our paychecks; haven’t gotten a pay raise since 2008.’
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) griped about his congressional salary in a podcast interview
Members of Congress make $174,000 a year salary, which includes additional funds for travel and housing, but it did not appear to be enough for Crenshaw.
‘It doesn’t matter to me because I don’t have any f***ing money to put in the stock market, unlike the bullshit headlines that have been written about me,’ he complained.
Video of Crenshaw’s remarks sparked interest from the social media account Nancy Pelosi Stock Tracker, a group that tracks stock trades from politicians.
His remarks were flagged with a community note on X to offer more context to his net worth.
Crenshaw’s estimated net worth is $1.47 million, and his estimated trade volume is $313,000,’ according to data from Quiver Quantitative, a speculative tracker, not $20,000 as he claimed.
Michael Moynihan and Batya Ungar-Sargon of the Free Press podcast
Dan Crenshaw on The Free Press podcast
In 2018, Crenshaw had an estimated net worth of $2,459,016 according to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks money in politics.
The message also estimated that Crenshaw’s stocks were up 44 percent in 2024.
But Crenshaw has repeatedly protested claims that he is somehow benefiting in the stock market because he is a member of Congress.
‘This is one of those stupid things that I’ve been dragged through the mud on,’ he said.
Crenshaw recalled when in January he blew up at Fox News host Jesse Watters who aired a segment highlighting the uncanny success of members of Congress in the stock market, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
‘I’m sitting here trying to feed my 3 month old and this dirt bag millionaire at Fox is accusing me of being a criminal with zero evidence,’ he said at the time.
Crenshaw has not purchased stock since March 2023.
‘Of course, it’s not true,’ he said.
A proposed ban on stock trading by members of congress and members of their families is supported by a wide margin of Americans of both parties.
A 2023 poll on the issue conducted by the University of Maryland showed that 86 percent of Americans favored the ban, including 87 percent of Republicans, 88 percent of Democrats and 81 percent of Independents.