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President Trump is reacting to the bizarre story of a special forces soldier getting arrested for using classified intel to make $400k on Polymarket.
Earlier this year, when Venezuelan President Maduro was captured, a mysterious Polymarket user made $400k overnight betting on Maduro’s arrest.
A newly created Polymarket account invested over $30,000 yesterday in Maduro’s exit. The US then took Maduro into custody overnight, and the trader profited $400,000 in less than 24 hours. Insider trading is not only allowed on prediction markets; it’s encouraged. https://t.co/EtZyW1IWTa pic.twitter.com/MzsU9kOU73
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 3, 2026
According to ABC News, a special forces soldier involved in the Maduro capture was arrested by the DOJ for using classified intel to make money on Polymarket.
Via ABC News
Federal authorities arrested a special operations soldier who was involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for allegedly pocketing more than $400,000 by betting on his removal from office, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
Federal investigators said Gannon Ken Van Dyke bet more than $33,000 on the prediction market Polymarket just days before President Donald Trump announced Maduro’s capture.
“Rather than safeguard that information as he was obligated to do, VAN DYKE decided to use that classified information to place trades on a prediction market platform for his personal profit,” the indictment said. “VAN DYKE subsequently tried to conceal his unlawful use of classified U.S. Government information by attempting to obscure the source of his unlawful proceeds and to disguise his connection to the accounts linked to the illicit trades.”
DOJ releases more information about the U.S. soldier who won more than $400,000 by betting on Maduro's removal.
Gannon Ken van Dyke could face up to 60 years in prison on all charges. Prosecutors are also seizing the money he won. pic.twitter.com/AKSC49fPTA
— BNO News (@BNONews) April 23, 2026
Trump was asked about the soldier during a press conference.
“Pete Rose, they kept him out of the Hall of Fame because he bet on his own team. Now, if he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team,” Trump said. “I’ll look into it.”
Reporter: There was a special forces soldier involved in the capture of Maduro who was arrested on suspicion of insider trading. Are you concerned that federal employees are betting on these reduction markets and potentially getting rich?
Trump: Well, I don’t know about it. Was… pic.twitter.com/zmPNGuVL1s
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 23, 2026