White House Teleprompter Operator Investigated Over Alleged $100,000 Trump Speech Betting Scheme
A White House teleprompter operator is facing an investigation after allegedly using confidential information about President Donald Trump’s speeches to place bets and earn nearly $100,000.
Gabriel Perez, who had worked at the White House since 2016, is accused of betting on specific words and phrases that Trump would mention during major speeches, including the State of the Union address.
The alleged bets were placed through Kalshi, a prediction markets platform that allows users to wager on the outcome of real-world events. The company said it reported the unusual activity to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the US regulator responsible for overseeing the platform.
According to reports, Kalshi suspended Perez’s account before any potential winnings could be withdrawn.
The platform said its analysts detected suspicious activity involving “mention markets” in March. These markets allow users to predict whether public figures will mention certain topics, such as countries, economic terms, or political slogans, during speeches.
Kalshi explained that statements made by influential figures, including presidents and Federal Reserve officials, can have significant effects on financial markets, including foreign exchange, oil prices, and stocks.
After reviewing account information, the company allegedly discovered that the trader was a federal employee responsible for operating White House teleprompters.
More than $90,000 in suspected profits were reportedly frozen before they could be transferred.
Kalshi’s head of enforcement, Robert DeNault, said the company identified the unusual trades, flagged them internally, and provided evidence to regulators.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump was aware of the situation and said Perez had been placed on unpaid leave. She added that he would no longer be employed by the White House.
The allegations were first reported by ABC News and later confirmed by CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner.
Sources familiar with the matter said Perez has been cooperating fully with the CFTC investigation.
ABC News reported that federal prosecutors in Manhattan decided not to pursue a criminal case at this stage.
When asked about the investigation, the CFTC said it could neither confirm nor deny whether it was conducting an inquiry.
