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White House Teleprompter Operator Accused of Insider Trading

WireByte Staff · August 9, 2026

Gabriel Perez, a teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump, allegedly made over $100,000 betting on the president's speeches on the prediction market platform Kalshi. Federal investigators believe Perez used inside information to place informed bets, which were flagged by Kalshi and referred to regulators. Perez has been placed on unpaid administrative leave.

Key points

  • Gabriel Perez, President Trump's teleprompter operator since 2016, has been accused of insider trading on Kalshi, a prediction market platform.
  • Perez allegedly made over $100,000 betting on the length of Trump's speeches, including the State of the Union address and a speech at the World Economic Forum.
  • Kalshi's surveillance team flagged and referred Perez's trades to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
  • Perez has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and the White House has described his actions as 'deeply unfortunate' and a 'disgrace'.
  • The CFTC is reportedly willing to settle with Perez if he returns his winnings.

Gabriel Perez, a teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump, has been accused of insider trading on the prediction market platform Kalshi. According to ABC News, Perez allegedly made over $100,000 betting on the length of Trump's speeches, including the State of the Union address and a speech at the World Economic Forum.

Kalshi's surveillance team flagged and referred Perez's trades to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is now investigating the matter. Perez has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, and the White House has described his actions as 'deeply unfortunate' and a 'disgrace'.

The CFTC is reportedly willing to settle with Perez if he returns his winnings. This incident highlights the potential risks of insider trading and the importance of regulatory oversight in the prediction market space.

Kalshi has stated that they have charged Perez and are assisting regulators on the matter. The company has also provided evidence collected to the CFTC. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in the financial markets.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.