Trump-Musk Rivalry: influential Washington duo appoints itself as mediator amidst ongoing feud
The Power Couple Split
Meet the Trumpland couple in the eye of the Trump administration's storm. They're none other than Katie Miller, the wife of Stephen Miller, and Donald Trump's deputy chief of staff - who find themselves straddling opposing sides of a heated breakup between President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
According to CNN last week, Katie Miller was stepping down from her senior role at the White House as a top spokesperson and adviser for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, moving on to work for Musk as he returned to his businesses. Yet, with the recent fallout between Trump and Musk, her role took a whole new significance.
The rift between the two titans reached its climax on Thursday over social media, with both hurling criticism at each other. Musk hinted at the possibility of impeaching Trump and installing Vice President JD Vance in his place, while Trump threatened to terminate federal contracts for Musk’s companies.
Musk vs. Trump - A TV Drama UnfoldsRead more about the behind-the-scenes of the Trump-Musk feud
Suddenly, Katie Miller found herself in the middle of the biggest breakup of Trump’s second term, sparking gossip among White House aides and speculation about the political consequences for one of the most powerful couples in Trump’s Washington, where loyalty is prized above all.
As it turned out, Katie Miller was in Texas last week for the series of interviews held by Musk for the SpaceX Starship's ninth test flight. There, Musk reportedly expressed his disappointment in the Republican's domestic policy bill in an interview with CBS News[3].
Her Twitter account has since become a haven of praise for Musk and his companies, with a space launch banner photo and the identity of "wife of @stephenm". Her only Twitter post on Friday was a series of laughing emojis in response to an altered image of her husband as a Home Depot employee attached to a post about immigration raids on the chain's stores.
The Millers - Wading Through Turbulent WatersLearn more about the beginnings of Katie and Stephen Miller's relationship
A former colleague has emphasized that Katie Miller will have to make a choice between Elon and Trump eventually[2]. Musk had unfollowed Stephen Miller on Twitter on Thursday[5], but both Millers continued following Musk until Friday.
The situation has raised questions about Stephen Miller's ascent[5]. Trump's closest advisers believe he is next in line to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for power within the administration, sparking speculation about whether Miller could rise to prominence if Wiles were to move on.
Moreover, some senior White House officials believe Katie Miller's affiliation with Musk negatively impacts her husband's standing with Trump[2]. However, others dismiss this idea, stating that the President and top brass understand that Katie Miller's employment with Musk has no bearing on her husband or the current political climate.
In the end, Katie Miller remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the matter.
When Stephen Met Katie
Stephen and Katie Miller's paths crossed during Trump's first term in 2018. Stephen was a senior advisor and speechwriter at the White House, while Katie was on the Department of Homeland Security's public affairs team and heading towards becoming Vice President Mike Pence's communications director.
Stephen had built a reputation as the creator of some of the administration's most hardline immigration policies, becoming a trusted aide in the Trump orbit. Katie, on the other hand, championed these same policies, once reflecting on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border during the heated debate over the administration's child separation policy.
The couple tied the knot at Trump's Washington D.C. hotel in February 2020, with Trump in attendance. In the years following Trump's departure from office, both Stephen and Katie aimed for a Trump comeback. Stephen founded a conservative nonprofit group, while Katie moved into the private sector, consulting major companies like Apple.
Return to the White House
Stephen Miller returned to the White House in January with a significant role, involved in many of Trump's signature policy initiatives. Katie Miller joined the administration as well, working on behalf of DOGE and Elon Musk, who had joined the Trump orbit after being a crucial campaign surrogate and a 2024 megadonor.
The couple began working closely with Musk, expanding their personal relationship outside of work. In the heat of the Thursday afternoon social media showdown, Stephen Miller was expected to appear on Larry Kudlow's show on Fox Business Network, an appearance that was later canceled.
Though Trump has been known to divide marital relationships in the past, the impact of the feud between him and Musk on Katie Miller remains to be seen.
Enrichment Data:The Feud Explored - A detailed account of the fellout between Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
Breakup's Political Consequences - A closer look at the potential political repercussions of the rift for Stephen and Katie Miller, as well as the Trump administration.
The Miller's Marital Woes - A review of Donald Trump's history of causing marital strife between his top advisers and their spouses.
- The political landscape is abuzz with speculation as Katie Miller, wife of Stephen Miller and deputy chief of staff in the Trump administration, finds herself at the epicenter of the feud between President Trump and Elon Musk.
- As the feud between Trump and Musk unfolds, the role of Katie Miller, who had been working for Musk on government efficiency, has taken on a new significance.
- With Musk's criticism of Trump's domestic policy bill and subsequent Twitter spat, pop-culture and general news outlets have transformed the affair into a reality TV-worthy drama, akin to celebrity gossip.
- As the Trumpland couple navigates this turbulent period in Washington, the ramifications for Katie Miller's standing with both Trump and Musk are unclear, adding another layer to the already complex criminal-and-justice issues weighing on the administration.
