Teleprompter operator for Trump placed on unpaid leave amid allegations of betting on Trump’s speeches in prediction markets.
ATLANTA—The escalating circumstances surrounding President Donald Trump’s teleprompter operator have raised significant ethical concerns within the White House. Reports surfaced indicating that the operator, Gabriel Perez, allegedly used insider information to place bets on the president’s public speeches through the online prediction market Kalshi. In response, the White House confirmed that Perez is currently on unpaid leave.
The situation began to unfold when Kalshi’s enforcement team alerted federal regulators regarding suspicious betting activities associated with what the president would articulate during key public addresses, including the State of the Union earlier this year. This revelation shines a light on the potential for misconduct involving insider knowledge and the ethical responsibilities of White House staff.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the incident as “unfortunate” and “a disgrace,” affirming that the administration maintains stringent ethical protocols concerning personnel conduct. Leavitt stressed that the president is aware of the developments and underscored the importance of integrity within the White House.
Kalshi’s enforcement chief, Robert Denault, confirmed via X that the trading platform promptly flagged and pursued an investigation into the concerning bets, which were subsequently referred to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission for regulatory oversight. While Denault refrained from mentioning Perez by name, he indicated that the company is cooperating fully with regulators, providing all relevant evidence for review.
Media reports based on anonymous sources indicated that Perez won substantial financial returns, exceeding 0,000, from wagering on the president’s speech content. Additionally, the activities reportedly sparked scrutiny regarding Kalshi’s policies, which only recently began mandating users to declare their employment affiliations. The platform explicitly prohibits betting that relies on insider information gleaned from one’s professional role.
As scrutiny regarding the ethical implications of insider trading increases, the impact extends beyond individual employees to the broader conversation about the president’s financial dealings. In recent disclosures, Trump reported earning approximately .2 billion from his cryptocurrency ventures in 2025, raising further questions about potential conflicts of interest. His reported income includes significant sums from World Liberty Financial and another enterprise, CIC Digital LLC, which dealt in crypto-related products.
While the White House has defended Trump’s business activities, maintaining that he complies with applicable conflict-of-interest laws, the implications of this incident and its broader ethical ramifications beckon continued examination. The ongoing situation may potentially influence public perceptions of the White House’s commitment to ethical governance.
As this story develops, it remains crucial for stakeholders and the public alike to scrutinize how ethics are upheld within our highest offices, especially amid broader discussions of financial transparency and accountability.
