Feds Eye “Mention Markets’ Where Bettors Wager on President Trump’s Words

One of the issues with the inundation of new event contracts people can trade on has been the stipulation that these markets are easily manipulated. Just check in with the teleprompter operator who was part of the crew that aired President Trump’s speeches and was also placing trades on event contracts featuring what POTUS would say next.

Mention Markets Stir Controversy as Feds Taking Closer Look at Them

The feds are finally paying attention to these so-called “mention markets” with a review underway to determine if market manipulation has been going on. With both Kalshi and Polymarket flagging over 140 instances of potential insider trading in 2026 alone, there are legitimate concerns over how fair some trades may have been. 

According to NPR, a media outlet, anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter have said that the feds are looking into markets that involve trades on what President Donald Trump or soccer sportscasters would say. 

A person with knowledge of the matter, cited by the media, added: “These mention markets are not popular across the political aisle. They are potentially very easy to manipulate, so the CFTC is taking a hard look at whether some of them make sense.”

The reported probe has already prompted Kalshi to remove all instances of mention markets from its platform, anticipating increased scrutiny. 

Mention markets are notoriously easy to manipulate, as all that a person would have to do is check in with what prediction markets are suggesting they would say, and simply utter it on the record. This could be something as simple as “MVP,” “ankle,” or “redshirt,” or even more complicated phrases such as “until further notice.” 

Platforms Respond By Flagging Suspicious Movements Themselves

To prediction markets’ credit, some of the cases serving as proof of the ongoing behind-the-scenes abuse were only brought to light after companies’ internal systems flagged the issues. 

This is the case with President Trump’s longtime reporter, as well as the case of a US soldier who traded on the capture of the Venezuelan leader earlier this year. 

However, this is not the only challenge prediction markets are facing.

The tug-of-war between state and federal regulation continues, as cases are filed all over the country against prediction markets, which have been accused of skirting gaming laws to advance what are purportedly sports gambling products.