Senator Wants Trump Jr. Investigated over Prediction Market Connections
David Genge Published 28/09/2026
Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah is calling for an investigation into Donald Trump Jr. and his connections to prediction market sites. The son of U.S. President Donald Trump is an investor in Kalshi and serves on the board of Polymarket. Senator Curtis noted that the younger Trump holds significant financial and advisory ties to prediction-market companies whose futures can be affected by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) decisions. The CFTC is the federal regulator of prediction market sites.
Senator Curtis believes that Congress needs to examine whether Trump's family connections can create real or perceived expectations of favorable government treatment for these prediction market sites.
Is the Trump family's connection to prediction markets a conflict of interest?
Senator Curtis argues that whether it is real or merely a perception, there is definite potential for a conflict of interest, with Donald Trump Jr. being so heavily involved in the two most prominent prediction market sites operating in the U.S.
In a letter he wrote to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill), making a request that the panel subpoena the president’s eldest son. Curtis wants to investigate Trump's various business interests and how they could raise suspicions of favoritism being offered due to his status.
"This pattern extends to his significant financial and advisory ties to prediction-market platforms that depend on favorable federal regulatory decisions being considered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)," Curtis wrote in his letter. As a federal agency, the CFTC is ultimately under the oversight of the White House. Current CFTC Chair Michael Selig is an appointee of President Trump.
"These reports raise legitimate questions about ... whether such relationships can create actual or perceived expectations of favorable treatment,' Curtis wrote. "They also may create expectations of a returned favor that would not be in the best interests of the American people."
Durbin indicated that he is in favor of a Trump Jr. subpoena. Grassley has not announced whether he will approve this request by Curtis.
The President's son is well compensated by the prediction market sites
Donald Trump Jr. was named a strategic advisor to Kalshi in 2025. As part of this arrangement, he was the recipient of a $300,000 equity stake in the company. According to reporting by the Financial Times, that equity stake is now worth as much as 10 times that amount. According to Kalshi, Trump advises the company in the areas of growth, market strategy, and partnerships.
He was also added to the Polymarket advisory board. This move came after the investment firm 1789 Capital sunk money into the prediction market platform. Trump is a partner in 1789 Capital.
Andrew Surabian, a spokesperson for Trump Jr., told CNN that Trump Jr. does not actively trade on prediction markets. Surabian stated that Trump Jr. has never lobbied his father for any favors for any company he owns or represents.
“Not only is Don a lifelong businessman and investor, but he is a private citizen who has never worked inside the government,” Surabian told CNN in a statement. “The idea that he should cease living his life and making a living to provide for his five kids just because his dad is President is, quite frankly, a laughable and ridiculous standard.”
The Trump family considered entering the prediction market business
President Trump was once the owner of multiple land-based casinos in Atlantic City, N.J. His family briefly toyed with the idea of opening a prediction market site.
In October 2025, Trump Media announced plans to open Trump Predict in partnership with Crypto.com. However, following public backlash, those plans were put on the back burner.