Collection

Did Elizabeth Warren sell Spirit Airlines stock before budget carrier went out of business? Here's the truth

Targeting a range of celebrities and politicians, these rumors about gambling and illegal insider trading have circulated over the years.

by Anna Rascouët-Paz, May 4, 2026

An illustration shows a dark screen with green and red trading lines and the faint silhouette of two people shaking hands in the background.

Image courtesy of TrueCreatives and alexaldo, via Getty Images — Snopes illustration

With the rise of the online betting platform Polymarket in the U.S., allegations are swirling about people with access to U.S. President Donald Trump's inside circle gambling using privileged information before it's public. That practice is legal.

Meanwhile, making market trades on Wall Street using insider knowledge is illegal, per the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Snopes readers have inquired about both types of transactions over the years, asking us to investigate a range of rumors targeting celebrities and politicians.

Here are 16 claims about online betting or insider trading that we've investigated.

By Anna Rascouët-Paz

Anna Rascouët-Paz is based in Brooklyn, fluent in numerous languages and specializes in science and economic topics. Got tips? Reach out to her on Signal at rascouetsnopes.41 or via email at anna@snopes.com.

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In February 2022, Stéphane Bancel had sold less than $10 million worth of shares by mid-month, a ...

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A white man wearing a blue suit speaks while sitting down.

No proof Trump sold $2.3B in Truth Social stock before April 2 tariffs announcement

April 8, 2025

Trump Media & Technology Group, Truth Social's parent company, called the rumor of a sale a "fak ...

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April 16, 2025

The quote compared Stewart's criminal convictions to allegations of President Donald Trump's adm ...

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This fueled speculation of insider trading because Greene is on the House Committee on Homeland ...

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Snopes has reported on variants of this supposed act since 2009. As of 2025, it's still fake news.

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Jan. 8, 2026

One trader made more than $400,000 betting on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's downfall. Bu ...

On a desk, a tablet's screen shows a Polymarket page listing a wager that reads "US strikes Iran by...?" With the options March 7 and March 31 underneath.

Unpacking claims Polymarket bets on Iran strikes point to insider knowledge

March 4, 2026

Bettors on the site wagered more than half a billion dollars on when the U.S. would attack Iran. ...

This image shows Barron Trump, U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, in 2026.

Did Barron Trump buy $30M in oil days before Iran war began? Claim lacks evidence

March 9, 2026

Trump's youngest son is reportedly worth at least $150 million, but there's no evidence he engag ...

Sen. Markway Mullin, wearing a blue suit and red tie, sits during a U.S. Senate committee hearing for his confirmation as the head of the Department of Homeland Security.

Markwayne Mullin bought Chevron, Raytheon stock days before Maduro capture

March 24, 2026

Mullin, who will now lead the DHS, also bought other stocks that rose in value after the capture ...

Eric Trump invested in drone maker shortly before Iran war

March 25, 2026

We found another one of Trump's sons was linked to the merger of an Israeli AI drone maker and U ...

President Trump, a white man, points straight in front of him as he speaks. He is wearing a blue suit and blue and white tie. He is standing in front of a blue background with the White House seal.

Did Polymarket user bet Trump would praise Allah on Easter?

April 8, 2026

The rumor originated from a post by former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who appeared to be ma ...

The photograph shows a telephone screen with a satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz and a yellow line representing a ship passing through the strait.

Analyzing claim Trump insider bet $51M on oil prices dropping before US announced Iran ceasefire

April 14, 2026

An anti-Trump media outlet alleged an ally of the U.S. president's administration was illegally ...

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a white woman wearing a blue zip-up shirt, holds a discussion at the National Press Building on January 12, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Did Elizabeth Warren sell Spirit Airlines stock before budget carrier went out of business? Here's the truth

May 4, 2026

Warren previously opposed a proposed merger between Spirit Airlines and JetBlue in 2024.

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