Trump teleprompter aide bet on speech mentions, reports say

Key facts

• Trump aide Gabriel Perez allegedly bet on specific words being mentioned during speeches.
• Perez reportedly made bets on a platform called Kalshi, a prediction market.
• Kalshi flagged Perez's activity, leading to an investigation by the CFTC.
• Perez will no longer be employed by the White House.
• Federal prosecutors declined to pursue a criminal investigation into the matter.

Gabriel Perez, an aide to Donald Trump, reportedly made approximately $100,000 by betting on specific words that would be mentioned during Trump's speeches, according to sources speaking to NPR and ABC.

Perez allegedly used a prediction market platform called Kalshi, where users can invest in contracts based on future events, such as specific words being spoken. His "forecasting" reportedly occurred over several months at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. Sources indicated that Perez sometimes adjusted his bets mid-speech if Trump skipped over a word he had wagered on.

Kalshi flagged Perez's activity as unusual, investigated, and froze his funds. The platform then reported the information to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). While the CFTC investigated and was reportedly in settlement talks with Perez, federal prosecutors in Manhattan declined to open a criminal investigation. The White House confirmed that Perez will no longer be working there.