White House Teleprompter Operator Faces $100K Betting Probe

A White House teleprompter operator is under investigation after allegations that he used inside information to place bets on US President Donald Trump’s upcoming remarks, earning nearly $100,000, according to reports.

Gabriel Perez, who worked at the White House from 2016, is accused of making trades tied to the specific words Trump would use in major public addresses. The alleged betting included wagers connected to the State of the Union speech.

The trades were placed on Kalshi, a prediction markets platform that allows users to bet on real-world outcomes. Kalshi said it reported the activity to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the agency that regulates the platform.

Kalshi later froze Perez’s account before any gains could be withdrawn, according to the reports.

Bets on Words Trump Would Mention

The company said its analysts identified unusual activity on “mention markets” in March. These contracts are designed to predict whether a speaker will use common terms, including references to specific countries, economic phrases, or campaign slogans.

Kalshi said the wording used by political figures, such as presidents and Federal Reserve chairs, can move financial markets, including foreign exchange, oil futures and stocks.

Using account information, Kalshi concluded that the bettor was a federal employee who operated White House teleprompters.

After connecting the trading to the alleged federal role, the exchange froze more than $90,000 before the funds could be taken out, the reports said.

Kalshi Reports Trading to Regulators

Robert DeNault, Kalshi’s head of enforcement, said the firm flagged the trades and provided evidence to regulators.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that President Trump was aware of the teleprompter operator and that Perez had been put on unpaid leave. She added that Perez would no longer work at the White House.

The allegations were first reported by ABC News and have been confirmed by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.

Sources cited in the reporting said Perez has been “fully cooperative” with the CFTC.

ABC said federal prosecutors in Manhattan declined to open a criminal case.

CFTC Will Not Confirm Probe

When contacted by the BBC to confirm whether it was investigating, the CFTC said it could not “confirm or deny” any probe.

Kalshi has said it turned the matter over to regulators after identifying the trading activity on its platform.

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17 July 2026