Gabriel Perez, who has operated Donald Trump's teleprompter since 2016, was placed on unpaid leave after winning more than $100,000 on Kalshi prediction markets tied to Trump speeches, including the 2026 State of the Union. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump is aware of the situation and described it as unfortunate, while Kalshi referred the trades to the CFTC. The episode has prompted discussion across ideological lines regarding ethics, market access, and regulatory oversight.