Ex-White House teleprompter operator ordered to pay $172,000 for Trump speech bets

A former White House teleprompter operator has been ordered to pay over $172,000 for using insider knowledge to bet on U.S. President Donald Trump’s speeches. Gabriel Perez, who worked as a teleprompter operator in the White House, was found to have placed bets on Trump’s public statements between December 2025 and February 2026 through the prediction markets platform Kalshi. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) ruled that Perez misused his access to sensitive presidential communications to gain an unfair advantage in financial bets. According to the CFTC, Perez’s actions violated his duty of trust and confidence. He was required to surrender profits totaling $107,539.02 and pay a civil penalty of $65,000. His penalty was reduced due to his cooperation with the investigation. Additionally, he faces a three-year ban from engaging in any form of trading. The CFTC announced the settlement on Friday, emphasizing the seriousness of the breach of federal regulations. Kalshi’s legal representative, Bobby DeNault, expressed support for the ruling, stating that no one is above the law. “It doesn’t matter who you are: violate our rules or federal law and you will face the consequences,” he wrote on X. Kalshi had previously flagged unusual betting patterns on “mention markets”, contracts where users predict whether a speaker will use specific terms. In March, the company’s analysts noted suspicious activity linked to a federal employee working with the White House. The user in question was identified as a federal employee operating White House teleprompters. Kalshi used account data to trace the activity and reported it to the CFTC. The firm highlighted how the words of political leaders, including presidents and Federal Reserve chairmen, significantly impact global financial markets, affecting foreign exchange rates, oil futures, and stock prices. In July, the White House Management Office issued a directive to senior staff advising against placing bets on prediction markets. Administration officials shared this guidance with CBS News, indicating heightened awareness of the risks associated with such activities. At the time, then-Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Perez was on unpaid leave and would not return to his position. Perez’s case underscores the potential for misuse of insider information within government operations. While the White House has not publicly responded to the CFTC’s findings, the incident highlights ongoing efforts to regulate financial activities involving politically sensitive data. The enforcement action serves as a warning to others who might consider exploiting their positions for personal gain. The CFTC’s decision reflects broader regulatory concerns about the intersection of politics and finance. As prediction markets continue to grow in popularity, the need for strict oversight becomes increasingly critical. The case also raises questions about the security of information handled by individuals in high-profile roles within the executive branch. For now, the focus remains on the legal repercussions for Perez and the implications for future compliance measures.