Teleprompter Operator Fined for Insider Trading Using Presidential Speech Information

A teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump has been ordered to pay $172,000 for engaging in prediction market trades using confidential information from upcoming speeches, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reported on Friday night.

Gabriel Perez leveraged “material, nonpublic information” obtained through his employment to conduct trades on a prediction market, according to the CFTC’s news release. Perez is required to return the $107,539.02 in profits he acquired, along with a civil penalty of $65,000. Additionally, he is prohibited from trading on prediction markets for three years.

Perez executed these trades through Kalshi. The CFTC revealed that Kalshi was instrumental in identifying the misconduct. Bobby DeNault, Kalshi’s lead lawyer, stated on X, “A Kalshi surveillance investigation caught a White House staffer engaging in prohibited trading activity. Today this individual was subjected to penalties by the CFTC and by our exchange.” He emphasized accountability by asserting, “It doesn’t matter who you are: violate our rules or federal law and you will face the consequences.”

The White House has not provided comments despite inquiries as of Friday night. Attempts to reach Perez were unsuccessful.

The CFTC classified Perez’s actions as insider trading, specifying that he traded “presidential mention market contracts,” which are based on specific terms the President might use in his speeches.

Perez served as a technical assistant to President Trump, managing the teleprompter since 2016. In announcing the fine and penalties, the CFTC acknowledged Perez’s “exemplary cooperation” throughout the investigation.

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled the online trades as unethical and “deeply unfortunate and frankly a disgrace” in July. At the time, Perez was placed on leave, with Leavitt stating that “this individual will no longer be here.”