Trump Teleprompter Operator Suspected of Using Insider Information for Gambling Profits

Gabriel Perez, the longtime teleprompter operator for former U.S. President Donald Trump, is suspected of exploiting his early access to Trump's speeches to place bets on their content, reportedly earning over $100,000. The allegations surfaced in a report by ABC News, revealing that Perez is currently negotiating a settlement with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over accusations of using insider information on the Kalshi prediction market platform.

Perez, who has served as a technical aide to Trump since the 2016 campaign, was among the last to review speeches before they were delivered and loaded onto the teleprompter. Investigators believe he placed bets ahead of multiple speeches, including the February State of the Union address, profiting from more than a dozen speeches over three months. Some bets had to be withdrawn mid-speech when Trump deviated from the prepared text, a practice Trump himself has acknowledged, stating he "leaves the teleprompter about 80% of the time."

Kalshi, the platform where Perez allegedly placed his bets, detected the unusual activity and promptly reported it to the CFTC. The company’s legal counsel, Bobby DeNault, confirmed their cooperation with regulators and noted that Kalshi has since updated its policies to require users to disclose their employment and prohibit trading based on work-related information.

The White House responded by emphasizing strict ethics rules for all staff and confirmed that Perez is fully cooperating with the investigation. An internal memo was circulated warning staff against using non-public information for gambling purposes. Despite Perez’s partial admission regarding some trades, federal prosecutors in Manhattan have decided not to pursue criminal charges at this time.