White House officials caught on hidden camera criticizing Trump: 'We have to get rid of him'

A WH official questioned the ballroom renovation, alleged a 'secret basement for the military,' and raised concerns over private donation funding
A right-wing journalist has released undercover footage allegedly showing White House officials criticizing President Donald Trump and internal administration practices during conversations captured without their knowledge (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
A right-wing journalist has released undercover footage allegedly showing White House officials criticizing President Donald Trump and internal administration practices during conversations captured without their knowledge (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Undercover footage has captured a senior White House budget manager claiming, "We have to get rid of Trump," while calling the president a "mess."

These secret recordings, released by O'Keefe Media Group, feature White House staffers slamming the administration's internal operations and questioning the transparency of a secret military construction project.



Hidden cams capture White House staffer blasting 'a mess' of a president

The controversy centers on Benjamin Elliston, who is reportedly a senior budget analyst and financial manager for the White House, and was filmed during what he believed to be a private date. 

During the encounter, Elliston did not hold back his disdain for the current administration's direction, stating, "We have to get rid of Trump."

He further characterized the situation by saying, "Seriously, he's a mess. He's f****d it up for everybody. Everybody!"

Elliston’s primary grievance appeared to be linked to the president's ballroom, where he claimed there are plans to add a "secret basement for the military."

He expressed deep concern regarding the financial ethics of the renovation, noting that the ballroom was "all being funded by private donations" and lamented that "no one knows where the money is coming from."

These remarks surface just as Republicans in Congress are moving to designate $1 billion in taxpayer funds for the same project.

President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner for members of his administration and law enforcement organization leaders, during National Police Week, in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner for members of his administration and law enforcement organization leaders, during National Police Week, in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Hidden cams uncover White House running on staffers' assumptions

Further footage features Maxim Lott, a special assistant to the president on domestic policy, who similarly spoke to an undercover reporter under the guise of a social meeting.

Lott described a disorganized administrative structure where lower-ranking employees often bypass the president to make decisions based on assumptions. 

Lott explained that "in theory, everything should sort of come from the president, but it might come from the level below him, where they're like I think I know the president well enough to say what he would say on this." 



Hidden cams capture warnings of 'uncontrolled' White House atmosphere

Beyond the administrative shortcuts, Lott criticized what he views as a total absence of rigorous financial evaluation.

He noted that there is rarely a structured debate over the economic impact of policy choices, remarking that "there's no like, 'Well, this will cost $10 million, but save people $20.'"

According to Lott, "there's no cost-benefit" analysis applied to the decisions being made on behalf of the president.

He concluded his assessment with a bleak outlook on the current environment, describing the "overall tone" inside the White House as "a little bit uncontrolled" and warned that the systemic issues are "not gonna fix itself."

While the footage has sparked significant conversation, it is important to note that the unedited recordings have not been independently verified.

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