The White House has taken action by placing Gabriel Perez, President Donald Trump’s longtime teleprompter operator, on unpaid administrative leave. This move follows accusations that Perez exploited his access to advance copies of presidential speeches to make profitable wagers on an online prediction market. The situation has prompted the administration to reassign another operator for Trump’s most recent televised address.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed regret over the situation, describing it as “deeply unfortunate.” She emphasized that the administration maintains rigorous ethical standards, which are intended to prevent such incidents. The decision to put Perez on leave underscores the White House’s commitment to upholding these principles.
Reports indicate that Perez allegedly profited over $100,000 by placing bets on Kalshi’s prediction markets. These platforms allow users to gamble on whether certain words or topics will be mentioned in public speeches. The unusual trading activity reportedly caught the attention of the platform, prompting them to refer the case to federal regulators for further investigation.
Currently, authorities are investigating whether Perez used insider information to gain an unfair advantage in the prediction markets. This case comes at a time when prediction markets are facing increased scrutiny from regulators, who are stepping up oversight to address concerns about potential insider trading.
