White House worker fined over betting on Trump’s speech

A former White House staff has been ordered to pay more than $172,000 for using insider information to bet on what US President Donald Trump would say in his speeches.

The accused, Gabriel Perez, worked as a teleprompter operator. Speakers typically deliver televised speeches by reading text displayed on teleprompters. Perez was accused of trading on the Kalshi platform between December 2025 and February 2026, betting on what the US president would say in various speeches. The platform allows users to bet on various real-world events.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which regulates such platforms, said Perez must return $107,539.20 in betting profits and pay a $65,000 civil penalty.

According to the CFTC, Perez violated the trust placed in him by misusing advance information about Trump’s remarks to place bets. However, his penalty was reduced because of his exemplary cooperation with the investigation. He has also been barred from trading on such betting markets for three years.

The White House has not yet commented on the matter. However, then-press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in July that Perez was on unpaid leave and would not return to his position.

-MT