White House Teleprompter Operator Fined Over Betting on Trump’s Speeches

WASHINGTON— The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a US federal regulator, has fined Gabriel Perez, a former White House teleprompter operator, $172,000 over allegations that he used inside information to place bets on President Donald Trump’s speeches through an online prediction market.
According to reports, Perez left his position after the allegations came to light. In a press release issued Friday, the CFTC said Perez improperly used “material, non-public information” obtained through his work for the president to place bets “for his personal benefit” on the Kalshi platform.
According to the agency, the Commission ordered Perez to disgorge profits gained from his illegal activities and pay a civil penalty. The CFTC said that while serving as a White House teleprompter operator from December to February, Perez placed bets on Kalshi regarding specific words or phrases Trump might use during his speeches. His role at the White House gave him access to the president’s speeches before their official delivery, and he improperly used that information to profit — violating his “duty of trust and confidence.”
Perez has admitted wrongdoing and issued an apology. He has also been barred from trading for three years. It remains unclear whether Perez resigned or was terminated from his position.
Then-White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had earlier described the reports of Perez’s insider trading as “deeply unfortunate” and “clearly an embarrassment.” According to White House staff records, Perez earned an annual salary of $175,000 for his teleprompter duties.
The case is the latest to highlight the continued expansion of online prediction markets, which allow users to place speculative bets on public events and trends. Notably, Kalshi had also announced penalties in April against three political candidates who placed bets on their own elections — including one candidate who bet on whether they would run for a US Senate seat in Virginia as an independent before officially announcing their candidacy.
Trump, meanwhile, has defended the prediction market industry, with which his family has business ties. He has opposed regulation of these markets by individual US states, arguing that oversight should instead fall under the CFTC. In its press release regarding Perez’s penalty, the Commission specifically thanked Kalshi for its cooperation in the matter.