WHITE HOUSE TELEPROMPTER OPERATOR INVESTIGATED OVER TRUMP SPEECH BETS

Gabriel Perez, a White House teleprompter operator employed since 2016, is being investigated over allegations that he used inside information to place bets on words President Donald Trump would use during major public addresses. Perez is accused of making nearly $100,000 through trades on Kalshi, a prediction markets platform, by betting on specific terms the president would mention, including during the State of the Union speech. Kalshi froze Perez's account before any profits could be withdrawn, securing more than $90,000. The platform reported the activity to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which regulates prediction markets.

Kalshi analysts detected unusual betting activity on "mention markets" — contracts where users predict whether speakers will use particular words, phrases or country names — in March. Using account data, the company identified the user as a federal employee operating White House teleprompters. Robert DeNault, Kalshi's head of enforcement, said the firm provided evidence to regulators. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump was aware of the situation and that Perez had been placed on unpaid leave. Leavitt added that Perez would no longer work at the White House.

According to reports, Perez has been "fully cooperative" with the CFTC during its investigation. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan declined to open a criminal case, according to one account. The CFTC said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating the matter. The story was first reported by one news outlet and subsequently confirmed by another.