Stephen Miller (political operative)
| Stephen Miller | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1985/1986 (age 30–31)[1] Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Duke University (BA) |
Stephen Miller is an American political operative, best known for working for Republican Senator Jeff Sessions and presidential-elect Donald Trump. As of November 2016, he is national policy director of Trump's transition team.[2]
Early life and education
Miller grew up in a liberal-leaning Jewish family in Santa Monica, California.[3] Though his parents were Democrats, Miller became a conservative after reading National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre's Guns, Crime, and Freedom.[4] While attending Santa Monica High School, Miller began appearing on conservative talk radio.[4] In 2002, at the age of sixteen, Miller wrote a letter to the editor of The Santa Monica Lookout, in which he stated that "There are usually very few, if any, Hispanic students in my honors classes, despite the large number of Hispanic students that attend our school," and "Osama Bin Laden would feel very welcome at Santa Monica High School."[5]
In 2007,[6] Miller received his bachelor's degree from Duke University, majoring in political science.[4] Miller served as president of the Duke chapter of Students for Academic Freedom and wrote conservative columns for the school newspaper. Miller gained national attention for his defense of the lacrosse players in the Duke lacrosse case.[4][7] While attending Duke University, Miller accused the poet Maya Angelou of "racial paranoia" and described a student organization as a "radical national Hispanic group that believes in racial superiority."[8]
Career
After graduating college, Miller worked as a press secretary for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Congressman John Shadegg, both members of the Republican Party.[9] Miller started working for Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions in 2009,[9] rising to the position of communications director.[4] In the 113th Congress, Miller played a major role in defeating the Gang of Eight's proposed immigration reform bill.[4][9] Miller and Sessions developed what Miller describes as "nation-state populism," a response to globalization and immigration that would strongly influence Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.[4] Miller also worked on Dave Brat's successful 2014 House campaign, which unseated Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor.[4]
In January 2016, Miller joined Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for president, serving as a senior policy adviser.[9] Starting in March 2016, Miller frequently spoke on behalf of the Trump campaign, serving as a "warm-up act" for Trump.[4] Miller wrote the speech Trump gave at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[6] In August 2016, Miller was named as the head of Trump's economic policy team.[10]
References
- ↑ Top Sessions aide joins Trump campaign
- ↑ "Pence replaces Christie as leader of Trump transition effort". Washington Post. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ↑ Hackman, Michelle (21 July 2016). "The Speechwriter Behind Donald Trump's Republican Convention Address". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ioffe, Julia (27 June 2016). "The Believer". Politico. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
- ↑ Miller, Stephen (27 March 2002). "Political Correctness out of Control". Santa Monica Lookout. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- 1 2 Hathi, Gautam; Chason, Rachel (31 July 2016). "Stephen Miller: The Duke grad behind Donald Trump". Duke Chronicle. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
- ↑ Bixby, Scott (16 April 2016). "Top Trump policy adviser was a 'controversial figure' for college writings". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
- ↑ Osnos, Evan (26 September 2016). "President Trump's First Term". The New Yorker. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Costa, Robert (25 January 2016). "Top Sessions aide joins Trump campaign". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
- ↑ Tankersley, Jim (5 August 2016). "Donald Trump's new team of billionaire advisers could threaten his populist message". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 August 2016.