Overview
- Following Tuesday's undercover video release by O'Keefe Media Group, the White House placed senior budget analyst Benjamin Ellisten on administrative leave while it reviews the matter and said he has no direct access to the president.
- The hidden-camera footage shows Ellisten saying "we have got to get rid of Trump" and calling the president "a madman" and "a mess."
- The video also features domestic policy aide Maxim Lott describing decision-making as "a little bit chaotic," and he later said he stood by his remarks and remained committed to the agenda.
- In the recordings, Ellisten alleges opaque private donations for a planned White House ballroom and speculates about oil-related insider trading, claims that have not been independently verified.
- Several outlets reported the leave and the comments but noted they had not reviewed unedited footage and cited James O'Keefe's past use of selectively edited stings.