A senior budget official within the Executive Office of the President, Benjamin Ellisten, has been placed on administrative leave following the release of undercover footage by the O'Keefe Media Group (OMG) on Tuesday. The video purportedly captures Ellisten making disparaging remarks about President Donald Trump and raising concerns about the funding and scope of White House projects.
"We have got to get rid of Trump. Seriously. He’s a mess. He’s f*cking it up for everybody. Everybody. Gotta get rid of him, honestly." — Benjamin Ellisten, Senior Budget Analyst and Fund Manager
Ellisten, identified as a Senior Budget Analyst and Fund Manager, was recorded during what he believed to be a date arranged through an online platform. In the footage, he expresses strong opposition to President Trump’s leadership, stating, "We have got to get rid of Trump. Seriously. He’s a mess. He’s f*cking it up for everybody. Everybody. Gotta get rid of him, honestly." He further characterized President Trump as a "madman" and dangerous, asserting, "With him at the top, it’s next to impossible to do anything, like, he’s a madman, literally. He’s invincible. Nothing can stop him, and that’s dangerous."
The recorded comments also included Ellisten questioning President Trump's mental state. "The way his decisions are so erratic, you would think he drinks. He doesn’t drink. And that’s what makes it so dangerous, that somebody could be of sound mind and body, totally coherent, could just be so reckless in their decision-making. That’s scary," he said. He concluded his assessment of the President's fitness for office by stating, "He should never be president, it’s, for me, it’s that simple. That’s where it stops." When asked if his colleagues were aware of his true sentiments, Ellisten indicated he kept his views private, responding, "No, they can’t know."
Beyond personal opinions on President Trump, Ellisten also raised specific financial and operational concerns regarding White House initiatives. He claimed that an ongoing ballroom renovation at the White House had expanded beyond its initial scope, suggesting the inclusion of a "secret basement for military operations and stuff," which he said was not initially disclosed. Ellisten also expressed alarm about the funding for this project, stating, "He claims it’s being done, being built, being sponsored by all private donations. No one knows where the money is coming from. So, and people are just opening up their wallets." He contrasted this with the standard gift-acceptance rules for federal employees, noting, "Most I can accept as a gift, any government employee, is like, it’s $25. Well, [Trump] just accept — he’s a government employee too, so it doesn’t really matter."
Additionally, the footage captured Ellisten criticizing the arrangement surrounding a Boeing aircraft gifted to the Trump administration by Qatar, intended for use as a new Air Force One. He alleged that retrofitting the plane would cost approximately $1 billion in taxpayer funds, describing the entire situation as "corruption. It’s just brazen and outrageous."
Following the release of the footage, O'Keefe Media Group reportedly contacted Ellisten for comment. He denied knowledge of the recording before abruptly ending the call. The White House responded swiftly to the report. Daily Caller reporter Rebeka Zeljko confirmed that Ellisten was placed on administrative leave within hours of the story breaking. A White House official provided a formal statement to the Daily Caller, which read: "This individual has been placed on administrative leave while we conduct a review and investigation. He has no direct access to the President or Senior Staff, and does not work on the White House campus. Such views expressed by the individual are not reflective of patriots who admirably serve in the Administration."
The O'Keefe Media Group, known for its undercover investigative tactics, has not yet released the full unedited footage of the encounter, and the recorded segments have not been independently verified by other news organizations. This incident highlights ongoing debates about the conduct of federal employees, particularly those in politically sensitive positions, and the perceived presence of a "deep state" within the bureaucracy working against an elected administration. The White House's rapid response underscores the seriousness with which such allegations of disloyalty and potential impropriety are being treated.
