Washington: President Donald Trump’s longtime teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, is under investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for allegedly using inside information to win more than $100,000 on Kalshi prediction markets. He placed wagers on what Trump would say during major speeches.
How Perez Built a Close Working Relationship With Donald Trump?
Gabriel Perez joined Trump’s team after the 2016 campaign when Trump’s staff searched for teleprompter services and found the New York-based company where he worked. Over the years, he became one of Trump’s trusted aides, with access to speech preparations and presidential remarks before major public events. A 2020 Politico profile highlighted Perez’s close working relationship with Trump, stating, “Perez has become the one person Trump trusts to manage his oratorical acrobatics, embellishments, and ad-libs during even the most scripted appearances.”
What Are the Allegations About Gabriel Perez’s Kalshi Bets?
Perez is facing scrutiny after an ABC News report alleged that he earned more than $100,000 through prediction-market bets placed on Kalshi, a platform where users trade contracts based on the likelihood of future events. The report claimed that Perez placed bets on Kalshi’s “Mentions” market, where users predict whether specific words, phrases, or topics will appear in speeches. According to ABC News, Kalshi identified unusual trading activity, which later led to a federal review. The alleged activity reportedly involved more than a dozen Trump speeches over three months, including the State of the Union address, a January World Economic Forum speech, and remarks at a Medal of Honour ceremony in March.
Did Perez Use Advance Access to Trump’s Speech Details?
The allegations focus on Perez’s access to Trump’s prepared remarks before speeches were delivered. Because of his role operating the teleprompter, Perez was reportedly part of a small group of people who received copies of Trump’s speeches in advance. ABC News reported that Perez allegedly used this access while making prediction-market trades. The report further claimed that he sometimes changed or exited bets during speeches when Trump skipped portions of his prepared remarks. Sources said Perez admitted making some trades during meetings with regulators. However, federal prosecutors reportedly decided not to open a criminal investigation into the matter.
What Is the Current Status of the Gabriel Perez Case?
Following the allegations, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Perez had been placed on unpaid leave. She said the decision was made by Trump, who “believes it’s deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace.” As of now, the matter is being handled by internal procedures, according to the officials. While the allegations have raised concerns about whether confidential information was used for financial gain, no criminal charges have been filed against Perez.
