The White House has placed senior administration official Benjamin Ellisten on administrative leave after undercover footage released by conservative activist James O’Keefe captured him making highly critical remarks about President Donald Trump and the administration.

Ellisten, who served as a senior budget analyst and funding manager, was secretly recorded describing Trump as a “madman” and accusing him of creating instability within the administration. In the footage, Ellisten claimed the president was “f**king it up for everybody” and suggested Trump’s leadership style was erratic and dangerous.

A White House official confirmed Ellisten’s leave to The Daily Caller, emphasizing that he had no direct access to the president or senior staff and did not work on the White House campus. The official added that Ellisten’s personal views “are not reflective of patriots who admirably serve in the Administration.”

The undercover recordings, published Monday, were conducted by journalists associated with James O’Keefe, whose investigative work has frequently targeted government agencies, media organizations, and political figures.

During the conversation, Ellisten also questioned Trump’s decision-making, stating that the president’s actions were so unpredictable “you would think he drinks,” before acknowledging that Trump does not consume alcohol. He argued that this unpredictability made the situation even more concerning.

Ellisten further speculated that Trump’s policies involving Iran and global energy markets could benefit business interests connected to the president’s family, alleging what “looks like” insider trading. However, the video presented no evidence to support those claims.

The footage also featured Maxim Lott, a special assistant on domestic policy, who described parts of the administration as “a little bit uncontrolled.” Lott suggested that some policy decisions are driven more by political instincts and voter appeal than detailed cost-benefit analysis.

After the recordings became public, Lott defended himself, saying he had been deceived by someone he believed was acting in good faith. He maintained that his comments had been taken out of context and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the administration’s agenda. As of Monday evening, there was no indication that Lott had been placed on leave or faced disciplinary action.

The incident is the latest in a series of undercover investigations targeting federal employees during Trump’s second administration. O’Keefe and similar investigative groups have increasingly focused on exposing internal criticism of the president, while the administration has continued efforts to identify and remove officials it believes are opposed to its policies.