Trump Teleprompter Operator Suspended Over Prediction Market Bets/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump’s longtime teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid leave following allegations that he used inside knowledge to place prediction market bets on the president’s speeches. Kalshi says it flagged suspicious trades and referred the matter to federal regulators. The controversy has renewed scrutiny of ethics, gambling and financial activity connected to the Trump administration.

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Trump Teleprompter Betting Scandal Quick Looks

• Trump’s teleprompter operator was placed on unpaid leave.
• The aide allegedly bet on words used in presidential speeches.
• ABC News identified the operator as Gabriel Perez.
• Perez has reportedly worked with Trump since 2016.
• He allegedly earned more than $100,000 through Kalshi bets.
• Bets reportedly involved Trump’s State of the Union speech.
• Kalshi flagged and investigated the suspicious trades.
• The company referred evidence to federal regulators.
• The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has jurisdiction.
• Kalshi prohibits job-based insider information from being used.
• Karoline Leavitt called the situation “unfortunate” and “a disgrace.”
• The case renews attention on ethics inside the administration.

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Trump Teleprompter Operator Suspended Over Prediction Market Bets

White House Places Longtime Aide on Unpaid Leave

President Donald Trump’s teleprompter operator has been placed on unpaid leave following allegations that he used privileged information about presidential speeches to make profitable bets on an online prediction market.

The White House confirmed the disciplinary action Thursday after reports linked the aide to wagers made through Kalshi, a regulated platform where users can bet on the outcomes of future events.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been informed about the allegations.

She described the matter as “unfortunate” and “a disgrace.”

“The White House has extremely strict ethical guidelines with respect to issues like this,” Leavitt told reporters.

Operator Allegedly Bet on Trump’s Speech Language

ABC News reported that Gabriel Perez, who has operated Trump’s teleprompter since 2016, allegedly used advance knowledge of presidential remarks to place bets on words and phrases Trump would use during major public appearances.

The report said Perez earned more than $100,000 from the wagers.

One of the speeches involved was reportedly Trump’s State of the Union address earlier this year.

Prediction markets allow users to purchase contracts tied to whether a particular event will occur.

In this case, the reported bets involved Kalshi’s “Mentions” markets, which let users wager on whether specific words or phrases will appear in speeches.

Because a teleprompter operator may see prepared remarks before they are delivered, the allegations raise questions about whether confidential workplace information was used for personal financial gain.

Kalshi Says Surveillance Team Flagged Trades

Kalshi’s enforcement chief said the company detected suspicious activity and alerted federal regulators.

Robert Denault, the company’s lawyer and head of enforcement, said on X that the “Kalshi surveillance team promptly flagged, investigated and referred these trades” to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The CFTC regulates certain derivatives and event contracts, including activity on federally regulated prediction markets.

Denault did not identify Perez by name.

“We have been assisting regulators on this matter and provided all evidence that we collected, as we do with any referral,” Denault added.

The statement suggests Kalshi’s internal monitoring systems detected trading patterns that appeared unusual or potentially connected to nonpublic information.

Kalshi Rules Ban Job-Based Insider Information

Kalshi recently began requiring users to disclose their place of employment.

The platform also prohibits customers from placing bets using information acquired through their jobs.

Such rules are intended to prevent users with privileged access from gaining an unfair advantage over other market participants.

Prediction markets depend on public confidence that contracts are priced through open information rather than confidential knowledge.

Allegations involving a White House employee could intensify pressure on platforms to strengthen identity checks, employment disclosures and insider-trading controls.

Report Relies on Anonymous Sources

ABC News based its report on multiple people familiar with the situation who spoke anonymously.

The sources were not identified because they were discussing details that had not been publicly released.

The report did not indicate whether Perez had been charged with any crime or formally accused by the CFTC of violating federal regulations.

The White House also did not say whether it had opened a separate internal investigation or whether additional disciplinary action could follow.

The unpaid leave allows the administration to remove the aide from official duties while the allegations are reviewed.

White House Calls Conduct an Ethical Violation

Leavitt’s comments made clear that the administration considered the allegations serious.

Her response emphasized that employees are subject to ethics rules governing confidential information, financial activity and personal conduct.

The White House has not released the specific ethical provisions that may have been violated.

However, using advance access to presidential speeches for betting purposes could raise concerns involving misuse of government information and conflicts of interest.

It could also undermine confidence in the integrity of official communications.

Prediction Markets Face Growing Scrutiny

Online prediction markets have grown rapidly in popularity.

Users can place money on political outcomes, economic reports, elections, policy announcements and statements by public figures.

Supporters say the platforms aggregate information efficiently and can offer useful forecasts.

Critics warn they can encourage gambling on sensitive public events and create opportunities for officials, employees or contractors with inside knowledge to profit unfairly.

Markets tied to speeches are particularly vulnerable because staff members, advisers, speechwriters, broadcasters and event organizers may know the content before the public does.

Allegations Could Prompt Tighter Enforcement

The reported case may lead regulators and prediction platforms to examine how they monitor government-related contracts.

Possible safeguards could include stronger employment screening, limits on markets tied to confidential speeches and closer review of accounts connected to political institutions.

Platforms may also face pressure to restrict trading by people who work directly for the officials or organizations involved in a market.

The CFTC has not publicly announced any enforcement action related to the matter.

Its review could determine whether federal commodities law applies and whether existing prediction market rules were violated.

Broader Questions Surround Trump-Era Profits

The controversy arrives amid wider scrutiny of financial activity tied to Trump, his family and members of his administration.

The president’s latest financial disclosures reported approximately $1.2 billion in income from cryptocurrency-related ventures during 2025.

Trump reported receiving more than $500 million through World Liberty Financial, which sold crypto products including governance tokens.

Another business, CIC Digital LLC, reported more than $600 million from sales of Trump-branded meme coins.

The value of both the tokens and coins later fell sharply.

Trump has also earned money through merchandise, licensing arrangements and events held at properties owned by his businesses.

White House Defends Trump’s Business Practices

Trump’s aides have repeatedly rejected allegations that his business interests create improper conflicts.

Earlier this year, Leavitt said Trump was complying with the conflict-of-interest requirements that apply to the presidency.

“The president is abiding by all conflict-of-interest laws that are applicable to the president,” Leavitt said.

She called it “absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency.”

Presidents are exempt from some federal conflict-of-interest laws that apply to other executive branch employees, though they remain subject to disclosure rules and other legal restrictions.

Critics argue that Trump’s continued business activity creates ethical concerns even when it does not clearly violate federal law.

Aide’s Future Remains Uncertain

Perez’s status beyond unpaid leave remains unclear.

The White House has not said whether he will return to his position, resign or face dismissal.

It also has not disclosed who is operating Trump’s teleprompter during his absence.

The outcome may depend on the results of the White House review and any action taken by the CFTC.

For now, the allegations have transformed a largely behind-the-scenes White House role into the center of a broader debate about prediction markets, confidential information and government ethics.

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