Pentagon’s DoD advisor Jamie Mannina reportedly fired after exposed as Trump hater

Former Hillary Clinton staffer Jamie Mannina’s criticism of Donald Trump was exposed in an undercover investigation.

A new investigative report from O'Keefe Media Group (OMG) has shed light on controversial remarks made by Jamie Mannina, a former FBI agent and Pentagon consultant.

In a series of undercover meetings with an OMG journalist, Mannina, who holds a senior advisory role with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Department of Defense, expressed critical views about President-elect Donald Trump and incoming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
 

Mannina’s Background and Critique of Trump

Mannina's career has spanned various government positions, including his work as a special agent with the FBI and a special assistant to Hillary Clinton. After Clinton's presidential loss, Mannina worked on counterintelligence efforts, focusing on Russian and Chinese espionage activities, which he believes influenced the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In the undercover recordings, Mannina shared his belief that foreign interference had compromised the election's integrity.

JUST IN: Top Pentagon Advisor Jamie Mannina has just been FIRED per email to @OKeefeMedia from Joint Staff Public Affairs Spokesman Joseph Holstead

Mannina was caught on OMG hidden cameras revealing plans “with a Couple of Retired Generals to Explore What We Can Do” to to… pic.twitter.com/Aq4dH1Whn0

— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 15, 2025

When asked about President Trump, Mannina did not hold back, calling him “a sociopathic narcissist” primarily driven by self-interest. He further argued that Trump would likely attempt to stay in office beyond the end of his term, despite constitutional restrictions. Mannina theorized that Trump's motivation for attempting to retain power would be to avoid legal consequences after his presidency.
 

Conversations with Retired Military Leaders

Throughout the conversations, Mannina discussed his ongoing efforts to challenge Trump’s presidency. He revealed that he had been in talks with several retired military generals, including admirals and major generals, to explore what could be done to prevent Trump from pushing boundaries in his second term. Mannina believed that had Kamala Harris won the presidential election, he would have received a significant position with the National Security Leaders for America, an organization focused on warning the public about the national security risks posed by another Trump presidency.

Wow

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 15, 2025

Mannina also spoke about his involvement in efforts to defeat Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections. He claimed to have published over 100 opinion articles, including pieces in The Huffington Post and The Hill, arguing that Trump’s actions were detrimental to the U.S. Constitution. During the recent election cycle, Mannina transitioned from writing under his own name to ghostwriting for retired generals, a move he believed was necessary to challenge Trump's influence.
 

Pentagon Work and Views on Military Technology

In the undercover interviews, Mannina also discussed his work at the Pentagon. He described his participation in high-level meetings with top U.S. military leaders in a secure room known as "the tank." One significant meeting focused on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. Mannina emphasized the importance of these technologies for national security and expressed frustration with bureaucratic obstacles that hindered progress. He argued that over-classification of intelligence was preventing the U.S. from effectively sharing critical information with international allies, thereby weakening collaboration against common threats.
 

Criticism of Pete Hegseth

Mannina did not hold back in his criticism of Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. He accused Hegseth of infidelity, alcoholism, and sexual assault allegations. Mannina’s negative comments about Hegseth further fueled controversy, painting a portrait of an individual unfit for leadership.
 

Concerns About the New Administration

As the conversations progressed, Mannina also expressed unease about his place in the incoming administration. He admitted to being "a little worried" about fitting into the new government under Trump, revealing personal thoughts he would not normally share. He acknowledged that his openness during the undercover interviews was unusual, as he felt compelled to divulge information he would typically keep private.
 

Joint Staff Response and Denial of Claims

Following the release of the video, OMG sought to verify Mannina’s claims. The Joint Staff of Public Affairs clarified that Mannina was not an advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, or the Joint Chiefs. While they confirmed that Mannina worked as a contracted employee with Booz Allen Hamilton in the Joint Staff’s J6 C4 & Cyber division, they emphasized that his personal views did not reflect the official stance of the U.S. military leadership.

See below the email response @OKeefeMedia received from Joint Staff Public Affairs Spokesman Joseph Holstead regarding Jamie Mannina's termination: pic.twitter.com/vCzgCwRWl7

— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) January 15, 2025

The statement from the Joint Staff further clarified that Mannina's comments did not represent the views of General Brown, who is preparing to serve as President-elect Trump's principal military advisor. The Joint Staff stressed that they were looking forward to working with Trump’s incoming administration.
 

OMG’s Investigative Methods and Public Response

The release of the video has sparked a wide range of reactions, especially concerning OMG’s investigative methods. O'Keefe Media Group, led by James O'Keefe, has faced criticism for using controversial tactics and selective editing in its past reporting. Critics argue that OMG often targets liberal figures to further conservative causes. In 2023, O'Keefe parted ways with his former organization, Project Veritas, amid financial misconduct allegations, before launching OMG.

The explosive nature of the investigation, coupled with Mannina's critical views of Trump and Hegseth, has reignited debates over the intersection of government officials, political discourse, and national security. As the full impact of these revelations continues to unfold, they will likely influence ongoing discussions about the future direction of U.S. defense policy, the role of intelligence agencies, and the relationship between military leadership and the executive branch.