Trump-Musk Feud Places Power Couple Stephen and Katie Miller on Opposing Sides

cnn.com/2025/06/07/politics/stephen-miller-katie-miller-musk-trump-meltdown

Revised Article

Katie Miller, wife of Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, finds herself at the center of the explosive feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. She had recently departed her White House role as a top spokesperson for Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to work directly for Musk managing interviews related to his companies. However, the dramatic escalation of the Trump-Musk conflict has placed the Miller couple on opposing sides of the biggest political breakup of Trump's second term.

The feud reached a crescendo when Musk endorsed the possibility of impeaching Trump and installing Vice President JD Vance, while Trump raised the possibility of terminating federal contracts for Musk's companies. Katie Miller was in Texas during Musk's SpaceX interviews when he first expressed disappointment with Republican domestic policy, and her social media now prominently features support for Musk and his ventures.

Stephen and Katie Miller met during Trump's first term in 2018, with both developing reputations as architects and supporters of hardline immigration policies. Stephen Miller gained influence as a senior adviser and speechwriter, while Katie Miller worked in DHS public affairs and later as Mike Pence's communications director. She notably defended the administration's child separation policy, stating that visiting the border to witness separations didn't make her more compassionate as intended.

The couple married at Trump's Washington hotel in February 2020 with Trump in attendance. During the four years out of office, Stephen Miller launched America First Legal Foundation while Katie Miller consulted for major companies including Apple. Both returned to the White House in January 2025, with Stephen Miller serving as deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security Advisor, while Katie Miller worked as a Special Government Employee for DOGE.

The situation has created speculation about potential impacts on Stephen Miller's political future, as he is considered second only to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in Trump's inner circle. While some officials suggest Katie's employment with Musk complicates Stephen's position, others maintain that Trump's trust in Stephen Miller remains unaffected. The episode echoes the previous tension between Trump and George Conway while his wife Kellyanne Conway worked in the administration, a situation that ultimately contributed to the Conways' 2023 divorce.

Missing Context & Misinformation 6

  • The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a temporary commission led by Elon Musk that aims to restructure federal government and implement budget cuts, with work scheduled to end by July 4, 2026. DOGE has faced legal challenges, including a judge's temporary order blocking steps to dismantle USAID.
  • Stephen Miller has been appointed as the 12th United States Homeland Security Advisor in addition to his role as deputy chief of staff for policy in Trump's second administration.
  • The Trump-Musk feud escalated when Musk posted on X that Trump appears in unreleased Epstein files, claiming this explains why the documents haven't been made public. Trump responded by suggesting termination of Musk's government contracts while Musk called for Trump's impeachment.
  • Special Government Employee status limits individuals to working no more than 130 days within the administration, which applies to both Katie Miller and Elon Musk in their government roles.
  • Susie Wiles serves as the first female White House Chief of Staff in U.S. history, having taken office on January 20, 2025.
  • The Kellyanne and George Conway divorce was finalized in 2023 after 22 years of marriage, following years of public tension over George's criticism of Trump while Kellyanne worked in his administration.

Disinformation & Lies 1

No disinformation or lies detected in this article.

Bias 3

The article contains some sensationalized language ('explosive breakup,' 'epic meltdown,' 'smoldering ruin') that amplifies the drama beyond what the facts warrant. However, this bias serves a useful purpose by helping readers understand the significance of the Trump-Musk conflict and its potential impact on White House dynamics. The gossipy tone about the Miller couple's situation, while somewhat tabloid-like, provides valuable insight into how personal relationships intersect with political power in the Trump administration. The bias is mostly fair given the genuine political implications of the feud, and the dramatic language helps convey the real stakes involved for key administration figures.