A White House teleprompter operator is being investigated for allegedly using insider knowledge of President Donald Trump's speeches to place bets and make nearly $100,000 on a prediction market platform. The staffer, Gabriel Perez, who had worked at the White House since 2016, is accused of betting on specific words the president would utter during major addresses, including the State of the Union.
Perez's trades were reportedly made on Kalshi, a platform regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where users can bet on the outcomes of real-world events. Kalshi confirmed it reported the unusual activity to the CFTC and froze Perez's account before any profits could be withdrawn.
Analysts at Kalshi noticed suspicious betting patterns on "mention markets" in March. These contracts allow users to predict whether a speaker will use certain terms, such as country names, economic vocabulary, or campaign slogans. Kalshi stated that the words of political leaders can significantly influence financial markets.
By reviewing account data, Kalshi identified the user as a federal employee operating White House teleprompters. The exchange subsequently froze over $90,000 in potential winnings. Robert DeNault, Kalshi's head of enforcement, confirmed the firm flagged the trades and provided evidence to regulators.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump was aware of the situation. She stated that Perez is now on unpaid leave and will no longer work at the White House. The story was first reported by ABC News and has been corroborated by CBS News.
Sources indicate that Perez has been cooperative with the CFTC's inquiries. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have reportedly declined to open a criminal case. The CFTC has not confirmed or denied whether an investigation is ongoing.