Trump Administration Officials Under Fire for Candid Remarks
Controversial Undercover Footage Emerges
Two officials from the Trump administration are currently facing backlash following the release of undercover footage by James O'Keefe. The video allegedly shows them making critical comments about President Trump and discussing what they termed as disorganized internal decision-making within the White House. The individuals involved are Maxim Lott, a Special Assistant for Domestic Policy, and Benjamin Ellisten, a senior budget analyst.
In the recordings, Ellisten expressed strong disapproval of Trump, labeling him as 'a madman' and stating, 'We’ve gotta get rid of him.' He characterized the president's behavior as 'erratic' and 'scary,' remarking, 'His decisions are so unpredictable, you would think he drinks. He doesn’t drink, and that’s what makes it so dangerous.'
Ellisten also commented on Trump's influence over oil markets amid the Iran conflict, suggesting that the president is aware of his impact on stock market reactions and hinted at potential insider trading linked to rising oil prices.
In response to the footage, the White House has reportedly placed Ellisten on administrative leave. A spokesperson clarified that Ellisten does not have direct access to the President or senior staff and emphasized that his views do not represent the administration's stance.
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
Meanwhile, Lott described the workings of the White House as 'chaotic' and 'somewhat uncontrolled.' He noted that lower-level staff sometimes make decisions based on their assumptions of Trump's preferences without his explicit approval. 'In theory, everything should come from the president,' Lott stated, 'but it might come from the level below him.'
He further claimed that many policy decisions are made without a formal cost-benefit analysis, saying, 'There’s no like, ‘this will cost $10 million but save people $20 million.’ It’s just, ‘this feels like a good idea’ or ‘the base supports this.’
After the footage was made public, Lott defended his statements, asserting that nothing he said contradicted the administration's policies and reaffirmed his commitment to Trump's agenda.