Trump Adviser Stephen Miller Could Expand White House Role

Stephen Miller, a senior policy adviser to President Trump who is known for his hard-line views on immigration policy and his fiery exchanges with reporters, could expand his portfolio to include communications, two White House officials said Saturday.

Sources say that the 31-year-old aide is a candidate to take on the message-shaping responsibilities that usually fall to the communications director, a post that has been vacated since Anthony Scaramucci was fired last week after a tumultuous 11-day stint in the position.

Miller, who already serves as Trump’s chief speechwriter and policy adviser, is being pitched by his allies as someone who understands Trump and should have more control over how the president’s agenda is being promoted, the officials added, requesting anonymity to discuss personnel.

One of the officials said that there are reservations on the staff about giving Miller extensive say over communications because he has a tendency to be dismissive of reporters, a trait that reflects the president’s approach but could further tensions between the news media and the White House.

More broadly, the mention of Miller by White House officials reflects the desire within the West Wing to figure out how to improve communications and fill a job that has vexed the Trump circle ever since Republican operative Jason Miller, who was slated during the transition to be White House communications director, dropped out of consideration last year.