I just read something that made me pause and think about what’s really going on in Washington. A former Trump adviser, Scaramucci, has just revealed on a podcast that the chaos in the administration isn’t an accident, but something those close to the president are actively exploiting to make money.

The analysis is pretty blunt: Trump acts as what Scaramucci called an empty vessel—a tool that opportunists use to advance their own agendas while benefiting from the volatility it generates. What’s unsettling is how this shows up in financial markets.

According to Scaramucci, there are people short-selling oil stocks minutes before Trump makes announcements, and then closing their positions afterward. That doesn’t sound like coincidence. Trump’s late-night calls with donors could be information channels that move markets, which technically would be insider trading if coordinated.

The most interesting point is that the chaos itself becomes monetizable. Officials can exploit price volatility to profit while carrying out their ideological priorities under the radar. It’s a system where everyone wins—except, well, the overall market.

On Iran, Scaramucci was direct: there’s no coherent geopolitical strategy. Improvisation has real costs. With oil production disrupted and supply chains adjusting, energy prices could surge to levels that cause serious political problems.

What worries Scaramucci most is that unlike during the first term, there are no longer any institutional barriers. There are no advisers willing to rein in the president. That has created a vacuum that ideologues and opportunists are quickly filling. Without internal safeguards, Scaramucci warns it will be like an open gate.

Scaramucci has credibility here. He was Director of Communications at the Casa Blanca, though only for 10 days in 2017—the shortest tenure in that position. He later managed hedge funds, collaborated with Fox News, and now is a prominent voice criticizing the administration. His perspective as a former insider is valuable for understanding the internal dynamics.

All of this has clear implications for the markets. If energy prices rise significantly and there’s no rational structure behind political decisions, volatility will be the new normal. For traders and investors, staying focused on these erratic moves will be crucial in the coming months.