Trump Teleprompter Aide Probed Over $100K Kalshi Bets

Key Takeaways

Gabriel Perez, President Trump’s teleprompter operator since 2016 and officially serving as a deputy assistant to the president and technical advisor, has been placed on unpaid leave amid a federal insider-trading investigation.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is examining whether Perez used advance access to Trump’s prepared speeches to earn more than $100,000 trading on Kalshi’s “Mentions” markets.
Kalshi froze Perez’s account and referred the matter to the CFTC after its surveillance systems flagged the activity. Perez is reportedly in settlement discussions with regulators.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have reportedly declined to pursue a criminal case, though legal and regulatory exposure could still evolve depending on the outcome of the CFTC investigation.
The case is believed to be the first known instance of a White House insider being investigated for allegedly exploiting nonpublic information on a prediction-market platform.

What Happened

Federal regulators are investigating whether a member of President Donald Trump’s White House staff used early access to presidential remarks for financial gain on a regulated prediction-market platform.

According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Gabriel Perez, a technical assistant to the president who has operated Trump’s teleprompter since 2016, is in discussions with federal regulators regarding allegations that he used inside knowledge of presidential speeches to earn more than $100,000 through prediction-market trading.

Perez’s official title is deputy assistant to the president and technical advisor. He is considered one of the few aides entrusted with handling Trump’s prepared remarks and is often among the last individuals to review speeches before they are delivered. Given Trump’s reputation for making last-minute edits, Perez has reportedly worked closely with the president and has previously been described by Trump as the only person capable of operating his teleprompter system.

The “Mentions” Markets at the Center of the Probe

The investigation centers on Kalshi’s “Mentions” markets, which allow traders to wager on whether specific words, phrases, or topics will be mentioned during public speeches.

Because Perez routinely had access to finalized speech drafts before they became public, regulators are examining whether he traded using information unavailable to the broader market.

Investigators reportedly believe Perez profited from trades related to Trump’s State of the Union address and more than a dozen other presidential appearances. The trades allegedly occurred over a three-month period and involved speeches including a primetime address in December, a World Economic Forum appearance in January, and a Medal of Honor ceremony in March.

How the Trades Were Flagged

The investigation reportedly originated through Kalshi’s internal compliance systems rather than through an external complaint.

According to reports, Kalshi’s surveillance analysts used information gathered during customer onboarding and account monitoring to determine that the account holder worked for the federal government as a teleprompter operator. The company subsequently froze the account and retained most of the profits pending regulatory review.

Kalshi’s head of enforcement, Robert DeNault, stated that the company’s surveillance team identified the suspicious activity and promptly referred it to the CFTC. The company has said it is cooperating fully with regulators.

Kalshi also introduced new disclosure requirements in June requiring traders in certain markets to provide employment information. Those changes reportedly followed the initial detection of Perez’s trading activity in March.

The investigation reflects increasing scrutiny of prediction markets as they grow in popularity. While several insider-trading cases involving prediction platforms have emerged in recent months, this appears to be the first known case involving a White House insider accused of using privileged government information for prediction-market trading.

Earlier cases reportedly included a U.S. Army Special Forces master sergeant charged over trades connected to a military operation and a separate matter involving a technology-company employee accused of trading on nonpublic search data.

White House Response

The White House has acknowledged the investigation while distancing itself from the allegations.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the teleprompter operator under investigation has been placed on unpaid leave and is no longer handling teleprompter duties for presidential speeches. She also said she was not aware of any other White House staff members engaging in similar trading activity.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle separately stated that the administration maintains strict ethics guidelines for all staff and officials and confirmed that the employee in question is cooperating with the CFTC investigation.

The allegations stand in contrast to internal guidance reportedly issued by the administration earlier this year. In March, White House employees reportedly received a memorandum warning against using nonpublic government information to place bets on prediction-market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, noting that such conduct could constitute a criminal offense.

Where the Investigation Stands

For now, the matter remains a civil regulatory investigation.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan reportedly declined to open a criminal case. The CFTC is said to be discussing a potential settlement with Perez that could require him to return profits earned from the trades.

Regulators are also reportedly considering restrictions that would prevent Perez from participating in similar markets in the future.

Perez has not been criminally charged, and the allegations remain unproven. He is employed through an outside contractor rather than directly by the White House. His LinkedIn profile identifies him as an employee of VIP Prompting, a company that has reportedly provided White House teleprompter services since the 1960s.

FAQ

What are Kalshi “Mentions” markets?
They are event contracts that allow users to wager on whether a public figure will say a specific word, phrase, or discuss a particular topic during a speech or public appearance.

How much money is involved?
Reports estimate Perez’s profits at more than $90,000, with some accounts placing the figure above $100,000. Kalshi has reportedly frozen the funds pending the outcome of the CFTC investigation.

Has Gabriel Perez been criminally charged?
No. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan reportedly declined to pursue a criminal case. The matter is currently being handled as a civil and regulatory inquiry by the CFTC.

Is this the first case of its kind?
Current reporting indicates this is the first known instance of a White House insider being investigated for allegedly using nonpublic government information to profit from prediction-market trading.

Closing Analysis

The investigation highlights the growing intersection between political prediction markets and insider-information enforcement. As prediction platforms become increasingly mainstream, regulators are being forced to adapt existing insider-trading frameworks to new forms of event-based wagering.

Although prosecutors have reportedly declined criminal charges and settlement discussions are underway, the case could still shape future policy. Key questions moving forward include whether Kalshi’s enhanced disclosure requirements uncover similar conduct elsewhere in government and whether the White House adopts more formal restrictions on prediction-market participation by staff members with access to sensitive information.