The White House has placed Gabriel Perez, President Donald Trump’s longtime teleprompter operator, on unpaid administrative leave following reports that he used his position to profit from betting on the content of Trump’s speeches. Perez, a technical assistant who has operated the teleprompter since 2016, is alleged to have won more than $100,000 by placing bets on the online prediction market Kalshi.

Kalshi’s "Mentions" market allows users to bet on whether specific words or phrases will be spoken during public speeches. The platform’s surveillance team flagged suspicious trades linked to Perez and referred them to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which regulates such markets. Kalshi is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Sources familiar with the probe told ABC News that Perez is negotiating with federal regulators to resolve the allegations. Investigators found that Perez placed bets on more than a dozen Trump speeches over a three-month period, including the State of the Union address, a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and remarks during a Medal of Honor ceremony. In some cases, Perez reportedly withdrew bets mid-speech when Trump skipped over certain words.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump has been informed and described the situation as "deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace." Leavitt confirmed that Perez was placed on leave by presidential order and will no longer work at the White House. She emphasized the administration’s strict ethical guidelines.

President Trump has previously expressed mixed views on prediction markets but indicated support for their operation in the U.S. Kalshi and its competitor Polymarket had recently implemented new safeguards following proposed legislation that could limit the industry.

Perez’s case highlights concerns about insider trading and ethical conduct within government roles, as federal regulators continue their investigation.

Sources