Ex-White House Teleprompter Operator Fined for Betting on Trump's Speeches

Gabriel Perez, a former White House teleprompter operator, has been ordered to forfeit over $100,000 in profits and pay a $65,000 fine as part of a settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The settlement, announced on Friday, also includes a three-year trading ban for Perez. The CFTC alleged that Perez traded presidential 'mention market' contracts on the prediction market Kalshi between December 2025 and February 2026 while employed at the White House. These event contracts pay out based on whether the president uses specific words or phrases in speeches. Perez reportedly made $107,500 from these bets. The White House has not commented on the settlement, but a White House official confirmed in July that Perez was no longer in his position, without specifying whether he resigned or was fired. This case highlights the regulatory scrutiny of insider trading in prediction markets, particularly involving government employees with access to sensitive information.