Inside the Oval Office, a former White House teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, used the confidential dialogue he’d seen before Trump’s speeches to place bets on the predictions platform Kalshi between December 2025 and February 2026. He profited over $107,000, breaching the trust owed to the public office.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) ordered him to pay a civil penalty of $65,000 and surrender his profits, and banned him from trading on Kalshi for three years. In July the White House sent a letter prohibiting staff from betting on prediction markets – a warning Perez ignored.
Kalshi’s lawyers welcomed the ruling, saying “regardless of who you are, violating the rules or federal law will lead to consequences.” The case highlights how political statements can move foreign‑exchange, oil futures and stocks, stressing the importance of ethical conduct for federal employees.
For more details read the full story on BBC News.
