President Donald Trump has removed his long-time teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, from his position following claims that Perez profited from betting on the content of presidential speeches. Reports indicate that Perez allegedly earned over $100,000 using the prediction market platform Kalshi by wagering on specific phrasing or vocabulary the president would utilize during public addresses.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the president was informed of the situation, labeling the conduct as a disgrace. Consequently, Perez has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and is permanently barred from White House employment. Leavitt noted that the decision was made directly by President Trump.
Kalshi officials stated that their internal surveillance team detected unusual activity surrounding the president’s speeches and promptly notified the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The platform has since frozen over $90,000 in profits from the account associated with Perez. Investigations revealed that the operator, who has worked with Trump since 2016, occasionally canceled wagers during live events when the president deviated from prepared remarks.
The controversy arises amid heightened regulatory focus on prediction markets in the United States. While the White House maintains that rigorous ethical guidelines prohibit such activities, the incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding insider trading. Notably, the president’s son, Don Jr., currently serves as an advisor for Kalshi.
