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White House teleprompter operator ordered to pay $172K for placing bets on speeches
United States🏛️ PoliticsCenter8/29/2026

White House teleprompter operator ordered to pay $172K for placing bets on speeches

Gabriel Perez, a former teleprompter operator for former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been ordered to pay $172,000 after using confidential information from presidential speeches to make trades on a prediction market. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) stated that Perez used 'material, nonpublic information' obtained through his role to trade on contracts related to presidential speech content. He was required to return $107,539.02 in profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty. Perez is also barred from trading on prediction markets for three years. Kalshi, the prediction market platform involved, cooperated with authorities and confirmed the enforcement action. Then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously condemned the actions as unethical and stated that Perez would no longer work at the White House.

Gabriel Perez, a former teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump, has been ordered to pay $172,000 in fines and profit repayment after federal regulators found he used confidential information from the White House to make insider bets on the prediction market Kalshi. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced the settlement on Friday, stating that Perez must return $107,539.02 in profits he earned between December 2025 and February 2026, plus a $65,000 civil penalty. He has also been barred from participating in prediction markets for three years. According to the CFTC, Perez accessed material, nonpublic information related to upcoming presidential speeches while serving in his role as a technical assistant and teleprompter operator. He used this information to trade on Kalshi, a platform that allows users to bet on specific outcomes, including the likelihood of certain words or phrases appearing in public statements. The CFTC described these trades as violations of both federal law and Kalshi’s internal policies. Kalshi played a key role in uncovering the misconduct. The company’s surveillance systems flagged unusual trading behavior linked to Perez’s account, prompting an internal investigation. Kalshi froze his account and secured more than $90,000 in earnings before referring the case to the CFTC. Bobby DeNault, Kalshi’s lead attorney, stated in a social media post that the firm had cooperated with the CFTC for months and emphasized that no one is above the rules. Perez was placed on unpaid leave from the White House in July 2026 following an internal review. At the time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the situation as “deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace.” She confirmed that Perez would no longer be employed by the administration. However, the White House did not provide further details on whether Perez resigned voluntarily or was formally terminated. The CFTC noted that Perez’s cooperation throughout the investigation contributed to the reduced civil penalty. The agency highlighted that he had access to presidential speeches before they were publicly released and that he breached his duty of trust and confidence by exploiting this privileged information. The CFTC’s statement emphasized that such actions undermined the integrity of financial markets and the ethical standards expected of government employees. Perez’s career within the Trump administration spanned multiple terms. Public records indicate he began working as a technical adviser in January 2025 and previously held roles as a teleprompter operator since 2016. His responsibilities included ensuring the smooth delivery of presidential speeches, giving him direct access to sensitive content before it was made public. The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of how government workers handle confidential information. Earlier in 2026, the White House Management Office issued a warning to staff against using nonpublic data for personal gain, particularly in relation to prediction markets. This guidance followed similar concerns raised by other agencies and private firms about the risks of insider trading involving political figures. The CFTC’s enforcement action marks one of the few high-profile cases involving insider trading tied directly to the presidency. It underscores the challenges faced by regulatory bodies in monitoring the intersection of politics and financial markets. While the CFTC praised Perez’s cooperation, it stressed that the penalties serve as a deterrent to others who might consider exploiting their positions for financial advantage. Kalshi’s involvement highlights the increasing role of prediction markets in modern finance, where real-time data and insider knowledge can significantly influence outcomes. The company has taken steps to enhance its compliance measures, including improved surveillance tools and stricter user verification processes. These efforts aim to prevent future instances of unauthorized trading and maintain the legitimacy of the platform. The case is likely to prompt further discussions about the ethical boundaries of government employment and the need for clearer guidelines on the use of confidential information. As the legal proceedings conclude, attention will shift to how the White House manages its workforce and ensures adherence to both legal and ethical standards moving forward.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 3 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

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3 reports

NBC News logoNBC NewsIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 958/29/2026
White House teleprompter operator ordered to pay $172K for placing bets on speeches

Gabriel Perez, a former teleprompter operator for former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been ordered to pay $172,000 after using confidential information from presidential speeches to make trades on a prediction market. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) stated that Perez used 'material, nonpublic information' obtained through his role to trade on contracts related to presidential speech content. He was required to return $107,539.02 in profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty. Perez is also barred from trading on prediction markets for three years. Kalshi, the prediction market platform involved, cooperated with authorities and confirmed the enforcement action. Then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously condemned the actions as unethical and stated that Perez would no longer work at the White House.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the facts of the case without overtly favoring any side. It includes quotes from both the CFTC and Kalshi, providing balanced perspectives. There is no evident loaded language or one-sided sourcing, making the framing neutral.

Why factuality (95): This article provides detailed and accurate information including the $107,539.02 profit amount, the $65,000 civil penalty, the three-year trading ban, and the involvement of Kalshi. It aligns closely with the cross-source consensus and includes direct quotes from the CFTC and Kalshi, making it high

Why objectivity (95): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting the facts without bias or emotional language. It includes direct statements from the CFTC and Kalshi while avoiding any overt editorializing or subjective commentary.

CBS News (US) logoCBS News (US)IndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 928/29/2026
Ex-White House teleprompter operator ordered to pay $172,000 for insider bets on Kalshi

A former White House teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, has been ordered to repay $107,500 in profits and pay a $65,000 fine after using his position to gain insider knowledge about President Trump's speeches to bet on the prediction market Kalshi. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) ruled that Perez accessed confidential speech content before it was publicly released, violating his duty of trust. Perez was placed on unpaid leave from the White House and banned from trading for three years. Kalshi froze his account after detecting unusual trading patterns and referred the case to the CFTC. The White House has not commented on the settlement, though a press secretary called the situation 'unfortunate' and 'a disgrace.'

Bias read (Center): The article presents the facts of the case without overtly favoring either side. It reports on the legal action against Perez based on evidence provided by the CFTC and Kalshi, without expressing judgment on the morality or intent behind his actions. While the subject involves a high-profile figure,

Why factuality (90): The article accurately reports the $172,000 payment, the $107,500 in profits, and the $65,000 fine. It also mentions the three-year trading ban and the White House's response. While slightly less detailed than Article 1, it still aligns with the cross-source consensus and provides reliable informati

Why objectivity (92): The article remains largely neutral in tone, presenting the facts without taking sides. It includes quotes from the CFTC and mentions the White House's lack of immediate comment, maintaining balance and neutrality in its reporting.

The Hill logoThe HillIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 908/29/2026
White House teleprompter operator who placed bets on Trump’s speeches ordered to pay $172K

A White House teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, has been ordered to pay $172,000 after placing online bets on President Trump’s speeches. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) stated that Perez must repay $107,539.02 in profits from his trades, along with additional civil penalties. The case highlights the legal implications of profiting from insider information related to high-profile political figures. While the CFTC did not specify the exact nature of the violations, the order suggests that betting on political speech may violate financial regulations.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a legal ruling without overtly favoring any political ideology. It focuses on the regulatory action taken by the CFTC against an individual, rather than taking a stance on the broader implications of such actions. The framing remains neutral, focusing客观

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the $172,000 payment ordered by the CFTC, citing the agency's news release. It mentions the $107,539.02 profit repayment and aligns with the cross-source consensus on the facts. However, it lacks specific details about the nature of the trades or the timeline compared

Why objectivity (90): The article presents the facts neutrally, avoiding strong language or opinion. It does not take sides or imply judgment beyond reporting the CFTC's findings. The tone remains objective and factual throughout.

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