Nearly a month after Karoline Leavitt’s departure, President Trump has not named a permanent White House press secretary, prompting a temporary communications setup. Danielle Alvarez and Jason Miller have moved into senior messaging roles, though neither is expected to hold on-camera briefings. Miller’s return is notable because he previously withdrew from a planned 2016 communications director role amid an affair allegation, later served on the 2020 campaign, and subsequently worked as a lobbyist and registered foreign agent.
Jason Miller Returns to White House Messaging Team Despite 2016 Controversy
Jason Miller in the Oval Office of the White House on July 29, 2026.
Nearly a month after Karoline Leavitt officially left her role as White House press secretary, President Donald Trump has not named a permanent successor. The White House press operation is running on a temporary structure as the administration searches for a long-term spokesperson.
Interim Team and Roles
MS NOW reported that Danielle Alvarez, a former Trump campaign spokeswoman, has stepped into a senior role to help steady the transition. Jason Miller, a longtime Trump adviser, has also taken on a senior messaging position; he moved into that role before Leavitt’s departure.
According to a person familiar with internal dynamics, neither Alvarez nor Miller plans to host regular on-camera press briefings, leaving the podium vacant while the White House reorganizes its communications shop.
Miller’s Past and Why His Return Matters
Miller’s presence inside the West Wing is notable because of his history with the administration. After Trump’s 2016 victory, Miller was initially named communications director but stepped back amid reports of an extramarital relationship with a campaign staffer. Miller, who was married at the time, later acknowledged fathering a child with that staffer while remaining married.
Despite the controversy, Miller reportedly stayed close to Trump and returned in 2020 as a senior adviser to the president’s re-election campaign. Following the 2020 campaign, Miller moved into lobbying work and registered as a foreign agent before resuming White House messaging responsibilities this term—roles he had been expected to assume nearly a decade earlier.
What This Signals
The decision to bring Miller back reflects a broader pattern: a small group of advisers who were once considered too controversial for the first-term White House have been welcomed into senior roles in the current administration. For observers tracking the White House communications strategy, Miller’s appointment—whether he stands at the podium or not—underscores how experience and loyalty within the political team continue to shape staffing choices.
Sources: MS NOW; The Washington Post
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