White House Staffer Targeted by CFTC for Alleged Trades on Prediction Market, Despite Cooperation
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Gabriel Perez, a trusted White House aide, faces a CFTC probe over alleged insider trading on a prediction market, even as he fully cooperates and follows strict ethics guidelines.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is currently examining whether Gabriel Perez, President Trump’s long-serving teleprompter operator and a loyal White House staffer, engaged in insider trading on the prediction-market platform Kalshi, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Kalshi, a platform that allows users to wager on public events, flagged Perez’s trades—bets on specific words and phrases that public figures might use in speeches—and referred the activity to the CFTC. Robert DeNault, Kalshi’s enforcement head, noted that the company 'promptly flagged and referred these trades to the CFTC, and we are cooperating and assisting regulators.'
Sources said Perez earned more than $90,000 from these trades, but the profits have been frozen while the investigation proceeds. Despite the scrutiny, Perez has reportedly cooperated fully with the CFTC, demonstrating the integrity expected of White House staff. The CFTC, as usual, declined to confirm or deny the investigation, maintaining its standard policy.
The White House has always emphasized strict adherence to ethical standards, previously warning staff against using nonpublic information for financial gain. A March 24 memo underscored that such misuse 'is a very serious offense and will not be tolerated.' White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told ABC News that 'the staffer in question is fully cooperating with the CFTC' and reaffirmed the administration’s strong ethics guidelines.
Perez, who serves as deputy assistant to the president and technical advisor, is among the higher-paid White House employees, with a reported 2026 salary of $175,000. He has worked closely with President Trump for a decade, often reviewing speech drafts shortly before they are delivered. This case highlights the intense scrutiny faced by those serving in the Trump administration, even when they act transparently and in accordance with the rules.