> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://polymarketguide.gitbook.io/polymarketguide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://polymarketguide.gitbook.io/polymarketguide/case-studies/did-trump-deploy/polymarkets-four-mistakes.md).

# Polymarket's Four Mistakes

Polymarket made four mistakes in total.

### The First Mistake

When creating the market, Polymarket did not use correct terminology for "deploy" and "active duty." Active duty refers to activation, which can place Guard members into service ahead of a future deployment. Deployment, by contrast, refers to assigning troops to a specific mission.

<figure><img src="https://3511841878-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwmHFi7NV8gmAN3L4jVKb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-179d8981ba64f3c29d76b43d6e191b8912bb4bab%2Fcs-image%20(227).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### The Second Mistake

In the first clarification, Polymarket did not correct this error and instead doubled down on the phrase "active deployment." The added condition "regardless of whether the troops are engaged in public-facing operations" did not resolve the underlying problem. Troops can only engage in any operations, public-facing or not, once they are deployed.

<figure><img src="https://3511841878-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwmHFi7NV8gmAN3L4jVKb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-953ab7f3247ae9816a430130a625761a30aae5c8%2Fcs-image%20(126).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### The Third Mistake

By launching the August 31 market, Polymarket effectively signaled that no qualifying event had occurred before that date, including the White House memo.

<figure><img src="https://3511841878-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwmHFi7NV8gmAN3L4jVKb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-10734e8ccf2e2c7550971a02288c901e75e87ef5%2Fcs-image%20(63).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### The Fourth Mistake

In its final clarification, Polymarket again referred to "active deployment" rather than "active duty." The August 31 market was resolved to "Yes" despite being dead-on-arrival, and the date of the memo was misstated, further confusing the timeline.

<figure><img src="https://3511841878-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FwmHFi7NV8gmAN3L4jVKb%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b1b48a73b17b1a7cfc71b3b0c158ccfed97c563a%2Fimage%20(1174).png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Coming Up

In the final chapter, we look at how Polymarket could move forward from this mistake.
