Gabriel Perez, the White House teleprompter operator, is under investigation for allegedly using his access to presidential speeches to bet on Kalshi markets.

ABC News reports that Perez reportedly made over $100,000 by wagering on specific phrases or topics in speeches, including major events like the State of the Union and the World Economic Forum.

Kalshi, a prediction market platform, alerted the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to suspicious trading activity on its 'Mentions' market, where users bet on words or phrases uttered during public addresses.

The CFTC discovered Perez placed bets on over a dozen speeches over three months, including a December primetime address, a January Davos speech, and a March Medal of Honor ceremony.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Perez has been placed on unpaid administrative leave, with President Trump personally sanctioning the decision.

Leavitt stated she was unaware of other staffers engaging in similar activities, though White House spokesperson Davis Ingle emphasized strict ethics guidelines for all officials.

Critics argue the case highlights broader issues of insider trading and ethical lapses within political circles, while others view it as a scapegoating attempt to divert attention from Trump's own alleged misconduct.The incident underscores the tension between political power and financial ethics in high-profile positions.