Trump Considering Stephen Miller as National Security Adviser

Miller was Trump’s first senior adviser to serve as a central figure in policy decisions focusing on illegal immigration and border security.

President Donald Trump said on May 4 that he plans to appoint someone as a new national security adviser within six months, with Deputy Chiefs of Staff Stephen Miller being selected for the role.

This is triggered by Mike Waltz’s exit from the position after Trump said he nominated as the United Nations US ambassador on May 1, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio serving as interim national security adviser.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force 1, Trump said many people are interested in the role of national security adviser, and Miller is considered a top candidate.

“Stephen Miller is at the pinnacle of totem poles, and I think he already has that job indirectly,” he said. “Because he has a lot to say about a lot of things. He’s Stephen Miller, a very important person in the administration.”

Miller was Trump’s first term senior adviser and was a central figure in many of his policy decisions, focusing on illegal immigration and border security. He currently serves as Trump’s deputy chief of staff, policy and homeland security adviser.

When asked about his departure from the role of Waltz, Trump said that Waltz did not resign, but he was simply moved to another role.

“I didn’t lose confidence in him,” Trump said. “He’s going to the United Nations. …For me, personally, if I have the option for myself, I would rather do that than the rest.”

Waltz faced scrutiny following the March incident, where he accidentally added Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the Signal Chat group, where several top management officials discussed a US airstrike renewal campaign against Yemeni Hooty terrorists.

Other Trump administration officials are allegedly involved in signal chats, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, Vice President J.D. Vance and Director of National Intelligence Director Tarsi Gabbard.

The White House said that the material classified in the chat was not shared. In an interview with Fox News in March, Waltz took full responsibility for the incident and denied knowing Goldberg personally.

After Trump announced his appointment for the role of UN ambassador, Waltz posted on social media that he was “deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation.” His appointment to the United Nations requires approval from the Senate.

Vance said on May 1 that a change in Waltz’s role came because Waltz fulfilled Trump’s hopes for the candidate.

Trump had previously appointed Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) as his UN ambassador, but eventually retreated from consideration in March.

“We must be united to achieve our mission. Elise Stefanik has been an important part of our efforts from the beginning,” Trump said. “The majority are so tough, I don’t want to take a chance on the others running in Elise’s seat.”

Stefanik told Fox News in March that he resigned from the Senate confirmation process for the role of the UN ambassador, suspecting slim margins in the GOP House and “corruption” in New York.

Joseph Lord and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.