Trump Aide on Unpaid Leave Over Alleged Insider Betting on Speeches
A White House aide has been placed on unpaid leave after allegedly using inside knowledge of President Donald Trump’s speeches to win big on an online prediction market. The case has raised fresh questions about ethics and insider trading within the administration.
The aide, Gabriel Perez, serves as Trump’s teleprompter operator and is one of the few staffers trusted with the president’s final remarks. According to reports, Perez placed bets on the platform Kalshi about what Trump would say in public addresses, earning more than $128,601 ($US90,000) in profits before the funds were frozen.
What Happened and Who Is Involved?
The White House confirmed on Thursday that Perez is on unpaid leave while the matter is investigated. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the situation as “unfortunate” and “a disgrace,” adding that the president is aware of the allegations. “The White House has extremely strict ethical guidelines with respect to issues like this,” Leavitt told reporters.
Kalshi, the online prediction market where the bets were placed, flagged the trades to its enforcement team and referred the case to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the federal regulator overseeing such markets. Robert Denault, Kalshi’s head of enforcement, said the platform’s surveillance team “promptly flagged, investigated and referred these trades” to the CFTC. His statement did not name Perez, but sources confirmed the aide’s involvement.
Who Is Gabriel Perez?
Perez has worked with Trump for a decade, traveling with him and operating the teleprompter during speeches. His official title is “deputy assistant to the president and technical advisor.” He is among the highest-paid White House staff, earning $US175,000 in 2026, according to a report submitted to Congress.
Trump has praised Perez publicly, saying during a 2024 campaign event in Reno, “I have a guy, Gabe. He’s excellent. I’ve had some real bad ones, but I have Gabe.” Given the president’s frequent last-minute edits to remarks, Perez is often the last person to see a speech before delivery.
What Are the Rules on Insider Betting?
Kalshi recently began requiring users to disclose their place of employment. Its policy prohibits betting based on information gained through a user’s job. The White House also warned staff earlier this year against insider trading on prediction markets. A March 24 memo stated that “the misuse of nonpublic information by government employees for financial benefit is a very serious offense and will not be tolerated.”
The case has drawn attention to broader issues of profit-making within the administration. Trump’s media company announced on Thursday that it would charge for special high-speed access to Truth Social posts, including possibly his own, which could affect national security and financial markets.
Trump’s Own Financial Disclosures
In his most recent financial disclosures, Trump reported making $US1.2 billion from his crypto businesses in 2025, while investors suffered losses. He earned more than $US500 million from his World Liberty Financial business selling new crypto products, including “governance tokens,” and another $US600 million from CIC Digital LLC through sales of “meme” coins stamped with his face. Both the tokens and coins have since plunged in value.
Trump has also profited from merchandising deals and events at his properties, significantly increasing his net worth since returning to power. Leavitt defended the president’s practices, saying, “The president is abiding by all conflict-of-interest laws that are applicable to the president,” and called it “absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency.”
What Does This Mean for Ethics in the White House?
The Perez case highlights ongoing tensions between the administration’s ethical guidelines and the actions of its staff. While the White House has moved quickly to place the aide on leave, the incident underscores the challenges of policing insider information in an era of online prediction markets. The CFTC investigation will determine whether Perez violated federal law, but the broader implications for transparency and accountability remain under scrutiny.