https://www.thegatewaypundit.c...use-insiders-caught/

By Cristina Laila | May. 12, 2026 1:40 pm

The O’Keefe Media Group on Tuesday released undercover video of White House insiders bragging about internal subversion against President Trump.

Maxim Lott, a Special Assistant to President Trump on the White House Domestic Policy Council, admitted to the OMG undercover journalist that domestic policy decisions are often made based on what “feels like a good idea.”

“In theory, everything should sort of come from the president…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,’” he said.

Benjamin Ellisten, a Budget Analyst Manager within the Executive Office of the President, expressed, “We have to get rid of Trump.”

“He’s [Trump] f*cking it up for everybody….We’ve got to get rid of him,” he said.

More from O’Keefe Media Group:

[quote]Maxim Lott, a Special Assistant to President Trump on the White House Domestic Policy Council, admits domestic policy decisions are often made based on what “feels like a good idea,” without formal cost-benefit analysis and sometimes without President Trump’s direct involvement.

Lott reveals that White House officials frequently make decisions based on their own interpretation of Trump’s preferences, stating:

“I think I know the president well enough to say what he would say on this.”

Maxim Lott also acknowledges that policy proposals are advanced simply because officials believe “the base supports it,” adding:

“There’s no cost-benefit analysis… it’s just like, ‘this feels like a good idea’ alright, just sign.”

Meanwhile, Benjamin Ellisten, a Budget Analyst Manager within the Executive Office of the President, expressed, “We have to get rid of Trump,” while also calling the president “a madman” and insisting his coworkers “can’t know” how he truly feels about the current sitting President of the United States. We have received comments from Benjamin and Maxim. When OMG contacted Ellisten for comment, he sounded flustered and claimed he had “no idea what we’re talking about” before abruptly hanging up the phone.

Lott responded to our request to comment by stating: “I went out with an individual l 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.”

https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/s...e-insiders-caught%2F



Update: Benjamin Ellisten has been placed on leave.

https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/s...e-insiders-caught%2F

Ok, let's start with the obvious.... undermining any executive is cause for termination, particularly at this level. On the other hand, if the decision making process is as described, then at least for me, it's concerning.

OMG does good work exposing things...

But then there's Former CIA Director John Brennan, also bragging about his “Legions” still controlling the "Deep State":

Former CIA Director John Brennan Says There are Still “Legions” of His Allies, Deep State Operatives, at DOJ, FBI and CIA

Appearing on MSNBC to talk to Lawfare ally Nicole Wallace, wife of New York Times narrative engineer Michael Schmidt – the guy who received leaks from FBI Director James Comey via Daniel Richman, former CIA Director John Brennan notes there are “legions” of operatives still embedded within the DOJ, FBI and CIA who are working against President Donald Trump.

https://x.com/AndrewKolvet/sta...t-doj-fbi-and-cia%2F




This is not a surprise as we have noted the Trump administration continues to take apart the tentacles of Lawfare and Intelligence operatives in Main Justice, various U.S. Attorney offices, FBI Headquarters, FBI field offices and various Intelligence Community silos.

Marco Rubio has been working to clean up the National Security Council as well as the State Department operations, including USAID. Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe have been working on the NSA and CIA collaboratively, and Todd Blanche has been working through the Dept of Justice. FBI Director Kash Patel has removed about ten percent of the problem in his agency.

https://theconservativetreehou...and-cia/#more-283340

quote:

Originally posted by coyotedude:
Ok, let's start with the obvious.... undermining any executive is cause for termination, particularly at this level. On the other hand, if the decision making process is as described, then at least for me, it's concerning.

Do you think you are going to get an honest opinion of what the decision making process is by people who philosophically oppose what the president is doing?

I think this happens in every administration, and even business offices. People making decisions and setting policies that are well above their pay grade/position/authority. Not that that makes it OK, but human nature being what it is, you have to expect it. I am absolutely sure that it happened under the Biden administration on a massive scale, and involving huge sums of money diverted into the pockets of those doing so. I suspect that it accounts for much of the dissonance we ordinary folks perceive in the political arena. That PDJT is putting his foot down and cleaning up some of this corruption is a large part of why so many seek to obstruct him. When you have been sucking at the public teat most of your life, and your flow is suddenly or even potentially cut off, it's unlikely that you're going to be happy about it.

And, while differing philosophies might have something to do with it, I'm more inclined to go with naked self-interest.

quote:

Appearing on MSNBC to talk to Lawfare ally Nicole Wallace, wife of New York Times narrative engineer Michael Schmidt – the guy who received leaks from FBI Director James Comey via Daniel Richman, former CIA Director John Brennan notes there are “legions” of operatives still embedded within the DOJ, FBI and CIA who are working against President Donald Trump.

We know the bureaucracy is shot through with these types, but I am surprised that many apparently still work inside the white house.

At least we are now rid of a new handful of them.

I'm sure their expectation is to be treated fairly.

Maybe the public will take care of them. May "they be a portion for foxes".

The largest operation I ever managed had a thousand people. I had eight people reporting to me on different aspects of the business. Had any of them had it in for me, I doubt I would have known.

With the platoons of "Senior" level people under Trump, it is virtually impossible to figure out which are being dishonest, and to what degree.

I do not have a solution...

The swamp is deep, the swamp is wide. It most likely can never be fully controlled but that does not mean we shouldn't try. I have harped on this before but it's undeniable. If we cannot rid ourselves of a sitting Congresswoman who is known to have committed immigration fraud to enter the country illegally and managed to place herself in the Halls of Congress of the United States of America we are either not really trying or were never serious about the issue in the first place.

The long term of how we deal with other countries in trade or war does not really impact much until we treat our own cancer. The virus has already infected the host.

quote:

Originally posted by 83v45magna:
We know the bureaucracy is shot through with these types, but I am surprised that many apparently still work inside the white house.

Wondered myself how many people are working for Trump in the White House/Administration, it's not surprising that some are hold overs and subversive.

Approximately 1,800 people work in the Executive Office of the President (EOP), which constitutes the core White House staff.

This includes policy advisors, communications teams, and senior aides, with most positions not requiring Senate confirmation.

The White House Office, a subset of the EOP located in the West Wing, has 377 employees.

As of July 1, 2025, the Trump White House had 404 staff members, including detailees and unpaid advisors.

The Biden administration had 564 staff members in 2024, the largest during the 2013–2025 period.

Around 400 people work full-time within the White House complex, including household staff like chefs and maintenance personnel, but excluding security and military personnel.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
If we cannot rid ourselves of a sitting Congresswoman who is known to have committed immigration fraud to enter the country illegally and managed to place herself in the Halls of Congress of the United States of America we are either not really trying or were never serious about the issue in the first place.

This just boggles my mind. Not a peep from Speaker Johnson and not even an ethics hearing. Nothing but crickets on that issue or the corruption/fraud issue with their "winery" or the Minneapolis shenanigans. Crickets.

They were quick to expel a Republican for basically being a wierdo, but a known criminal? Nothing.

What an idiotic douchebag. Fire his fucking ass.


https://x.com/JamesOKeefeIII/s...istration-day-479%2F