Kalshi Probes Bets That Nailed Trump's Press Secretary Pick

The prediction market Kalshi is investigating suspicious trades placed on its platform that correctly forecast President Trump's selection of Katie Zacharia as his new White House press secretary, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company confirmed the probe but declined further comment. Three small, precisely timed bets were placed before the announcement, including a $19 wager on Thursday night and two bets around $74 and $80 on Friday afternoon. These are expected to yield profits of $1,896, $3,689, and $4,023 respectively, despite Zacharia having only a 1% chance according to Kalshi's estimates. Zacharia, a conservative commentator, was not considered a frontrunner. The White House confirmed her appointment on Truth Social. This incident highlights how prediction markets can be exploited by those with insider knowledge, following a similar case where a Trump teleprompter operator profited over $100,000.