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In a turn of events that\u2019s stirred up a storm in political circles, Benjamin Ellisten, senior budget analyst and funding manager in the Executive Office of the President at the White House, has found himself at the center of controversy. The catalyst? A hidden-camera operation, orchestrated by James O\u2019Keefe\u2019s Media Group<\/a>, exposed Ellisten\u2019s scathing comments about President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n The footage released on May 12, 2026, captured Ellisten and his colleague, Maxim Lott, openly criticizing Trump. In the conversation, Ellisten referred to the President as \u201cerratic\u201d and a \u201cmadman,\u201d while stating, \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get rid of him.\u201d<\/p>\n His colleague Lott further described the White House as chaotic, with policies being made without thorough analysis. These explosive comments sent shockwaves through the political establishment, making it clear that the situation was far from a simple office disagreement.<\/p>\n While O\u2019Keefe\u2019s operation has been met with mixed reviews over the years<\/a> for its selective editing, the video nonetheless shows direct criticism from Ellisten and Lott. As is often the case with such undercover footage, critics caution about the absence of the full, unedited context, as O\u2019Keefe\u2019s team is known for releasing selectively edited clips. It\u2019s unclear if this snippet represents the entirety of their conversation, leaving many questions unanswered.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8BREAKING: @JamesOKeefeIII<\/a> just exposed a Trump White House \u201cSenior Budget Analyst & Funding Manager\u201d of saying we \u201cHAVE TO GET RID of\u201d President Trump.<\/p>\n \u201cWith [Trump] at the top, it\u2019s next to impossible to do anything\u2026 He\u2019s a madman, literally.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow: @BoLoudon<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/dQOeQubuDT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) May 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Within hours of the video\u2019s release, the White House took swift action. Ellisten was placed on administrative leave, a decision typically made to allow for further investigation. A White House official, speaking to the Daily Caller<\/em><\/a>, emphasized that Ellisten had no direct access to President Trump, indicating that the remarks were likely isolated. However, the timing of the leave and the subsequent silence left room for speculation about the incident\u2019s bigger implications.<\/p>\n Was Ellisten\u2019s security clearance impacted by these revelations? And could this lead to a formal investigation into his conduct? These questions remain unanswered, and the White House has been tight-lipped about further developments. As the hours pass, the silence surrounding the incident only deepens the public\u2019s curiosity.<\/p>\n\n
White House Response<\/h2>\n