George Santos Under Investigation Over Kalshi Bet On His Own State Of The Union Attendance

BreakingBusinessGeorge Santos Under Investigation Over Kalshi Bet On His Own State Of The Union AttendanceByConor Murray,Forbes Staff. Murray is a Forbes news reporter covering entertainment trends.Follow AuthorJun 03, 2026, 09:36am EDTJun 03, 2026, 09:36am EDTToplineFederal authorities are reportedly investigating former Rep. George Santos, who repeatedly claimed on social media he would attend the State of the Union in February and then bet against his own attendance on the Kalshi prediction market in an apparent bid to score money.Santos skipped the State of the Union after repeatedly claiming on social media he would be there. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)Getty ImagesKey FactsKalshi reported Santos to federal authorities, multiple outlets reported, with the New York Times reporting the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates prediction markets, had opened an investigation into Santos’ Kalshi bid.One day before the State of the Union address in February, Santos explicitly stated in a video on X: “I'm going to be there for the State of Union in the gallery, guys,” clarifying he is able to visit the House floor when it is not in session after his expulsion from Congress and stint in federal prison.Leading up to the address, Santos continued to claim on X he would attend, asking followers in one post whether he should wear a “muted serious suit to the SOTU or a bedazzled one,” responding “Aye!” to a user who asked whether he would attend, claiming in another post he would be present in the gallery and detailing his “trip to DC” in other posts.Santos, on the evening of the State of the Union, posted on X he actually would not attend: “Watching SOTU from an airport tv was not part of the plan! FML.”Some X users immediately accused Santos of deliberately scheming the prediction market odds, with one accusing him of “lying about how he was going” so he could “bet all his money on ‘No.’”This is a developing story. Check back for updates.G...