Two high-ranking White House officials have been caught on hidden camera allegedly plotting to subvert President Donald Trump, calling him a literal “madman” who needs to be ousted from power.
One has reportedly been placed on leave after O’Keefe Media Group released the undercover video featuring Maxim Lott, a special assistant to President Trump on the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Benjamin Ellisten, a budget analyst manager within the Executive Office of the President.
“[Trump is] f***ing it up for everybody,” Ellisten said. “We’ve got to get rid of him.”
He called Trump “a madman, literally,” and stressed his coworkers could not know his true opinions: “They can’t know.”
Meanwhile, Lott was captured on undercover camera admitting key domestic policy decisions are often made without formal analysis and based on assumptions about what Trump “would want.”
“In theory, everything should sort of come from the president,” Lott said. “But it might come from the level below him [Trump] where they’re like, ‘I think I know the president well enough to say what he would say on this.’”
WHITE HOUSE CONFESSIONS: President Trump’s Special Assistant on the White House Domestic Policy Council Admits Advisors Make Decisions Based on What “Feels Like a Good Idea,” Says “There’s No Cost-Benefit,” Reveals WH Staff Independently Shape Domestic Policy Based on Their Own… pic.twitter.com/03zNK3MB3q
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) May 12, 2026
OMG reports: “Lott’s comments point to a deeper concern: that policy decisions are not driven by efforts to save American taxpayers money. He told the undercover journalist that proposals move forward because officials believe ‘the base supports it,’ with no serious financial review: ‘There’s no cost-benefit analysis… no, like, ‘oh, well, this will cost $10 million, but save people $20.’
“There’s nothing like that, it’s just like ‘this feels like a good idea’ or ‘the base supports this,’ all right just sign!”
When contacted for comment, OMG says Ellisten sounded flustered and claimed he had “no idea what we’re talking about” before abruptly hanging up the phone.
He has since been placed on administrative leave and is under investigation.
NEW: Daily Caller reporter @rebekazeljko is reporting that Benjamin Ellisten from the White House has been placed on administrative leave & is under investigation. https://t.co/F5KA4Xpxea
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) May 12, 2026
Lott actually provided a comment, telling OMG: “I went out with an individual I thought was a genuine person, but it goes to show how insidious politics and this city can be. Nothing I said was contradictory of this administration and I remain fully committed in helping carry out its agenda.”
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