Elon Musk Exits White House, Poaches Top Trump Aide’s Wife for Private Sector Role
In a significant development, tech billionaire Elon Musk has officially left his post in Washington, D.C., and has taken one of President Donald Trump’s top aides with him. According to a report by CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, Katie Miller, the wife of Stephen Miller, one of Trump’s top aides, has reportedly left the White House to work for Elon Musk full-time.
The Economic Times reported that Katie Miller was working as an adviser for Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has now taken on a more significant role, leading communications, including arranging Musk’s interviews in connection with SpaceX’s Starship launch. Her new duties may also include booking his media appearances for Tesla and SpaceX.
Sources close to Musk told WIRED that Katie Miller was appointed to lead communications for DOGE under Musk prior to his transition to the White House. An official told the outlet that her connection to Elon Musk was “central to DOGE’s interactions with the rest of the White House.” They added, “She’s the key intermediary—delivering DOGE’s daily messaging across the administration and handling the delivery of any sensitive or unwelcome news to Musk.”
Musk officially announced his departure from the White House on Wednesday, after his 130-day term as a special government employee came to an end. Katie Miller was also considered a special government employee, which enables private sector individuals to work for the government for a limited number of days per year. According to The Economic Times, Musk’s exit from the White House—with Katie Miller accompanying him—came just one day after he publicly expressed disappointment in what President Biden has referred to as his “big beautiful bill.”
The bill includes tax cuts and stricter immigration enforcement measures. Musk criticized it in an interview with CBS, calling it a “massive spending bill” that worsens the federal deficit and “undermines DOGE’s mission.” Stephen Miller responded indirectly on X, without naming Musk, disputing the claim that the bill increases the deficit. He clarified that DOGE cuts apply to discretionary spending, such as the federal bureaucracy, and noted that under Senate budget rules, discretionary spending cannot be cut through reconciliation.
As reported by The Economic Times, Musk voiced frustration over his political efforts, telling The Washington Post that he had underestimated the challenges within the federal bureaucracy. “It’s a much tougher fight than I expected,” he said. “I knew there were issues, but trying to fix things in D.C. is definitely an uphill battle.” Earlier this month, Musk signaled a shift in strategy: “I’m going to significantly reduce my political spending. I think I’ve done enough.” His original ambition to slash $1 trillion in government spending fell far short.
Katie Miller and her husband, Stephen, first met in 2017 while working on some of the Trump administration’s most controversial immigration policies. Katie had recently been appointed deputy press secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, while Stephen was architecting the administration’s family separation policy—a move that drew widespread international criticism. The couple married in 2020 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., and they now have three children.
In the wake of Musk’s departure, Stephen Miller praised DOGE, calling it “one of the most valuable services ever provided to government.” Musk’s exit from the White House and Katie Miller’s move to the private sector have significant implications for the tech billionaire’s business ventures and the Trump administration. As reported by The Economic Times, Musk is now refocusing on his business ventures, following four turbulent months—which included posing with a chainsaw, donning a cheesehead to support a losing conservative candidate in Wisconsin, and staging a Tesla car show outside the White House.
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