White House teleprompter operator accused over Trump bets no longer in job, official says | US politics
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-07-28 18:42:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump Defends Prediction Markets Amid White House Betting Scandal
Donald Trump has defended the prediction markets industry, stating that states should avoid regulating them and instead leave oversight to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This stance comes as controversy surrounds a White House teleprompter operator who reportedly used inside knowledge to place bets on what Trump would say in major speeches, including the State of the Union address.
The operator, Gabriel Perez, is no longer employed by the federal government after ABC News reported he had won more than $100,000 by betting on the content of Trump’s speeches through the online prediction market Kalshi. The White House confirmed Perez had been placed on unpaid leave before his departure, following revelations that his winnings amounted to more than half of his $175,000 annual salary.
Kalshi’s policy prohibits betting based on information gained through one’s job, and the platform referred the suspicious trades to federal regulators. The incident has heightened scrutiny of prediction markets, which have seen explosive growth, with trading volume on Kalshi soaring from $100 million last year to $3 billion today.
Critics argue that prediction markets are essentially unregulated gambling, prompting some states to attempt bans. However, Trump’s position is clear: he favors federal oversight by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission rather than state-level regulation.
This episode highlights the growing risks of insider trading in prediction markets and underscores Trump’s consistent support for minimal state intervention, even as concerns mount over the integrity of these platforms.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/28/white-house-telemprompter-trump-bets