White House: Staffer accused of placing bets on Trump speeches put on unpaid leave

July 16, 2026

A White House teleprompter operator is under investigation for allegedly exploiting privileged access to presidential speeches for financial gain. Gabriel Perez, who has been employed at the White House since 2016, reportedly made nearly $100,000 by wagering on specific words President Donald Trump would say during significant public addresses, including the State of the Union. Authorities are examining whether Perez illegally used confidential information about speech content that he obtained through his position.

Who is affected

Gabriel Perez (White House teleprompter operator since 2016)
President Donald Trump
The White House administration
Betting platforms that accepted the wagers

What action is being taken

Gabriel Perez has been placed on unpaid administrative leave by the White House
An investigation is being conducted into the alleged betting activities

Why it matters

This case raises serious concerns about the misuse of insider access to confidential government information for personal financial benefit. It exposes potential security vulnerabilities within the White House regarding speech preparation and highlights ethical breaches when staff members exploit privileged information. The incident could prompt reviews of protocols surrounding access to sensitive presidential materials and may have legal implications regarding insider information misuse.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC