A longtime teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump has been placed on unpaid administrative leave following reports that he used advance knowledge of presidential speeches to profit from online prediction markets. Gabriel Perez, who has served as a technical assistant to the president since 2016, is currently in talks with federal regulators to resolve allegations that he generated more than $100,000 in winnings by betting on specific words or phrases the president would use during public addresses. The investigation centers on his activity within Kalshi, a platform that allows users to wager on various outcomes, including the content of political speeches.
The suspicious activity was first identified by Kalshi’s internal surveillance systems, which flagged irregular betting patterns that did not align with typical market behavior. Upon discovering that the account holder was a federal employee with direct access to the president’s prepared remarks, the company referred the matter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Sources indicate that Perez allegedly placed bets on several high-profile events, including the State of the Union address earlier this year. While the investigation is ongoing, reports suggest that the profits from these trades have been frozen and were not successfully withdrawn from the platform.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the president is aware of the situation and has described the alleged conduct as deeply unfortunate and a disgrace. The administration has emphasized that it maintains strict ethical guidelines for its staff, and officials have confirmed that Perez will no longer be operating the teleprompter for the president. As the Commodity Futures Trading Commission continues its review, the case highlights the growing regulatory scrutiny surrounding prediction markets and the potential for individuals with non-public information to exploit these platforms for personal financial gain.