The O’Keefe Media Group on Wednesday released undercover video of an NIH contractor admitting to ripping down and trashing federal portraits of President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and others inside the Maryland headquarters.
The contractor, Joseph Olmert, bragged about destroying the federal installed portraits.
Per the O’Keefe Media Group:
Joseph Olmert, a contractor inside the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Research Animal Management Branch, admitted to an undercover OMG reporter that he destroyed federally installed portraits of President Trump, JD Vance, RFK Jr., and NIH head director Jay Bhattacharya.
On hidden camera, Olmert described his defiance toward the administration & admitted to discarding the government owned displays – a potential violation of (18 U.S.C. § 1361) Destruction of Government Property – a crime that carries up to 10 years imprisonment depending on damage.
When reached for comment, NIH officials confirmed to @OKeefeMedia that Joseph Olmert is an active contractor within the Research Animal Management Branch & provided the following statement:
“At this time, we cannot confirm any individual’s involvement. The matter is being handled through internal channels, & we are not in a position to verify details beyond that. Regarding the material you shared, we have acknowledged receiving it.
However, we have not received additional information from police that we can share at this time.
The NIH police is looking into it.”
“Man, f*ck these guys… I just decided to rip them off the wall,” Olmert told the OMG journalist.
“I threw those motherf*ckers away,” he said.
“Your secret is safe with me,” the OMG reporter said.
“Federal property is not to be f*cked with,” he said.
WATCH:
BREAKING: NIH Contractor Admits to Ripping Down & Trashing Federal Portraits of President Trump, VP Vance, RFK Jr., & Director Jay Bhattacharya Inside the Maryland Headquarters.
“Man, f*ck these guys… I just decided to rip them off the wall.”
“I threw those motherf*ckers… pic.twitter.com/uYfiXP72oi
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) December 3, 2025
