The Supreme Court just ruled Trump’s tariffs illegal. Guess who’s about to make a fortune off it? Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm now run by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s sons, has been buying up the rights to tariff refunds from U.S. importers at pennies on the dollar. Here’s how the scheme works: → U.S. companies paid billions in tariffs that are now ruled illegal → Cantor approaches those companies and says: “I’ll give you 25 cents now for every dollar you’re owed in refunds” → Companies take the quick cash rather than wait years for the legal process → When the refunds come through, Cantor collects the full dollar Lutnick “divested” from Cantor by handing it to his twenty-something sons and placing his equity in a trust for those same sons. He paid zero capital gains tax on the transfer. As Commerce Secretary, Lutnick has direct visibility into the government’s legal strategy, how their lawyers rate their odds, and what arguments they’ll make. His family’s firm is betting against the very tariffs his boss created. They bought at 25 cents on the dollar, and after today’s SCOTUS ruling, those rights could be worth 80–90 cents. The potential payout could be in the billions. This is insider trading with extra steps.
🚨🇺🇸 LUTNICK SWINDLES AMERICA AGAIN!!
The Supreme Court just ruled Trump's tariffs illegal. Guess who's about to make a fortune off it? Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm now run by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's sons, has been buying up the rights to tariff refunds from U.S.… pic.twitter.com/A2YMfsGJQK
Hello readers. Today, let’s dive into a topic that’s once again making waves in U.S. politics: suspicions surrounding Donald Trump, the President, and his associates in potential insider trading. From the tariff policy chaos in 2025 to unusual activity on prediction markets like Polymarket tied to 2026 international decisions, various allegations have surfaced. These aren’t just rumors—they stem from formal calls for investigation by Democratic lawmakers, ethics experts, and media reports. This post summarizes the publicly available facts objectively. Note that legal conclusions await official determinations by authorities.
Tariff Policy Chaos and Suspicions of Market Manipulation
The core of the allegations revolves around the Trump administration’s economic policies, particularly tariffs. In April 2025, President Trump posted on social media (Truth Social) in all caps: “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!”—hours before announcing a 90-day pause on many of his newly imposed broad tariffs (except those on China). Stocks surged dramatically as markets rebounded from prior panic selling triggered by the initial tariff rollout.
This timing raised red flags. Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Adam Schiff and others, sent letters to the White House demanding an urgent probe into whether Trump, his family, or administration officials engaged in insider trading or illegal market manipulation based on non-public information.
Critics pointed to potential violations of securities laws, including the STOCK Act, arguing the President’s post could have been designed to manipulate markets or allow insiders to profit. NPR and other outlets reported that ethics experts viewed this as possible intentional market manipulation, while the White House dismissed it as political attacks. Some reports noted clustered trades by administration-linked individuals around tariff announcements, though no direct evidence showed the President personally sold stocks beforehand.
The reversal led to massive gains for investors who acted on the “buy now” signal, fueling accusations of a pump-and-dump scheme benefiting insiders and billionaire allies. Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee, including Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, called for state attorneys general to investigate, claiming only those with insider knowledge profited from the policy flip-flops.
Prediction Markets and Shadowy International Policy Bets
Allegations extend beyond tariffs to prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi. In early 2026, unusual trading occurred ahead of the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. An anonymous trader (or multiple linked accounts) placed large bets—around $30,000–$35,000—on Maduro’s removal by January 31, just hours before the raid. The bets paid out over $400,000 (with combined profits exceeding $600,000 across accounts).
The timing sparked widespread suspicions of insider trading, as the operation was highly classified. Lawmakers like Rep. Ritchie Torres introduced bills to crack down on insider trading in prediction markets, citing risks of government officials profiting from policy decisions. Media outlets (NPR, BBC, AP, WSJ) highlighted how the bets “reeked” of advance knowledge.
Adding fuel: Donald Trump Jr. serves as an investor and unpaid adviser to Polymarket, and a paid strategic adviser to Kalshi. Ethics experts note this creates conflicts, as bets on events influenced by the President (e.g., military actions, policy shifts) could benefit family-linked platforms. The Trump administration has backed these companies in legal battles against state bans, viewing them as financial exchanges rather than gambling. Meanwhile, prediction markets host heavy volumes on Trump-related outcomes like tariff revenues, court rulings on tariffs, or future foreign targets.
The Role of Family and Associates
Donald Trump Jr. is central to many concerns. His advisory and investment ties to prediction platforms raise questions about potential self-dealing, especially when markets bet on administration actions. Broader suspicions involve the Trump family’s crypto ventures and other dealings, though direct links to insider trades remain unproven in public reports.
Lawmakers and watchdogs argue these setups create perverse incentives: insiders could push policies for personal gain via bets or related trades.
Conclusion: The Need for Transparency and What’s Next
These suspicions highlight how the Trump administration’s bold policy moves—tariffs, military actions—create massive market volatility, opening doors to abuse. Insider trading undermines fair markets and public trust. Multiple investigations continue, including congressional scrutiny and calls for regulation of prediction markets. While political motivations exist on both sides, the facts warrant serious examination.
What do you think? Share your views in the comments. This post is based on public reporting and is not legal advice—follow reliable sources for updates.
