Timely trades before Trump announcements spark calls for probe

Reuters identified four notably timed trades ahead of Trump’s announcements, prompting concerns about insider trading and the oversight of prediction markets. The White House reiterated that ethics rules bar federal officials from profiting on nonpublic information, while regulators like the CFTC and DOJ say they are monitoring such activity amid ongoing debates over platform rules for Polymarket and Kalshi. The highlighted trades include 2025 option bets before tariffs were paused, a January 2026 bet on Maduro’s ouster on Polymarket, bets linked to the Iran conflict in February, and a $500 million oil futures wager shortly before Trump delayed an energy attack. Experts warn that proving insider trading in commodities and prediction markets is complex, underscoring calls for clearer regulatory guidance.