Miller discussing communications

WASHINGTON» Stephen Miller, a senior policy adviser to President Donald 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.

The White House officials cautioned that conversations about Miller’s role are ongoing and no final decisions have been made. But they acknowledged 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 10-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.

A White House spokeswoman declined to comment.

Miller previously worked on press and communications for Attorney General Jeff Sessions when he was in the Senate and for former GOP congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Inside the White House, he has built a close bond with the president, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon.

While Miller’s associates from the campaign praise him as a Bannonstyle nationalist who channels Trump’s base, he does have critics. One of the officials said that there are reservations on the staff about giving Miller extensive say over communications since he has a tendency to be dismissive of reporters, which could further tensions between the news media and the White House.

Miller last Wednesday had a tense back-andforth exchange with CNN’S Jim Acosta during a news briefing on Trump’s latest immigration plan, accusing the reporter of “cosmopolitan bias.”