Trump Suspends Teleprompter Operator Over Betting Allegations

Jul 17, 2026

72 min

Jul 17, 2026 04:31

Trump suspends teleprompter operator over betting allegations

## Allegations of Betting on Speech Content

US President Donald Trump has suspended a teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, amid accusations of betting on the content of Trump's speeches. The White House announced the suspension after Perez allegedly profited over $100,000 by wagering on specific words and phrases in Trump's addresses.

## White House Reaction

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the situation as "deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace." Perez has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and will no longer work at the White House, a decision made by President Trump himself.

## Kalshi's Involvement

The prediction market platform Kalshi, where Perez allegedly placed his bets, reported suspicious activity to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Kalshi's head of enforcement, Robert DeNault, stated that their surveillance team flagged the trades, and they are cooperating with regulators by providing evidence.

## Financial Implications

More than $90,000 of Perez's profits have been frozen, and he is currently negotiating a settlement. Perez had been involved in betting on various speeches, including the State of the Union and a primetime address in December.

## Ethical Concerns

The incident highlights concerns over insider trading in prediction markets, which are under scrutiny in the US. The White House maintains strict ethical guidelines prohibiting such activities. Despite these rules, Trump's son, Don Jr., has been an advisor for Kalshi since early 2025, praising the platform for its accurate predictions in the 2024 election.

Read the full story at the source

What you need to know to get Emirates ID?

Leave your details and get a guide as a gift to avoid mistakes

Article contents