Gabriel Perez, a teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump, is no longer employed by the White House after being accused of using his access to profit from bets on the president's speeches. The allegations center on wagers placed through Kalshi, a regulated prediction market where users can bet on the outcome of events such as political remarks.
The Allegation
Perez was accused of placing bets tied to Trump's speeches — wagers that could have been informed by his insider knowledge of what the president would say and when. The exact nature of the bets has not been publicly detailed, but the accusation suggests Perez may have used his position to gain an unfair edge in the market.
Kalshi, which operates under U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight, allows users to trade contracts on binary outcomes — for example, whether a specific phrase will be uttered during a speech. Such markets are legal but subject to rules against insider trading and manipulation.
Employment Status Confirmed
Perez is no longer employed by the federal government, according to a statement from the White House. The administration did not elaborate on whether he resigned or was terminated, nor did it comment on any ongoing investigation. The departure comes just days after the accusations surfaced in media reports.
It is unclear whether Perez faces any legal consequences. Federal law prohibits the use of non-public information for personal financial gain, but the application of insider-trading rules to political prediction markets remains a gray area.
The White House has not said whether it will refer the matter to the Justice Department or the CFTC. Kalshi has not publicly commented on the specific trades. For now, the case raises questions about how much access staffers and others have to sensitive information — and whether the platforms they use are equipped to detect abuse.
