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Miller, DeStefano in talks
The White House is considering bringing back former Trump adviser Jason Miller to help manage communications strategy ahead of the midterms, with a senior White House official telling The Washington Post that the appointment has not been finalized.
“Jason Miller is in talks to join the White House communications team”
The Washington Post also reported that Johnny DeStefano is set to join the White House as an unpaid special government employee and report to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, with DeStefano helping coordinate midterm strategy across various offices.
CNN said Miller is expected to take on a special government employee role focused on crafting messaging around the president’s accomplishments, while noting that paperwork and details were still being finalized.
CNN added that Miller has worked with Trump dating back to 2015 and that DeStefano is expected to join the White House as well, with one source describing him as “incredibly influential” and having “deep relationships that span the House, Senate and White House.”
The Straits Times framed the staffing moves as part of an effort to bolster messaging and operations ahead of midterm elections in which Republicans face the prospect of losing control of Congress, citing people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity before it is finalized.
Press access fight
Separately from the midterm staffing discussions, the White House announced it would select the small group of journalists permitted to approach President Donald Trump, breaking with a system run by the media through the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA).
France 24 quoted the WHCA statement saying, "In a free country, leaders do not select the media," while reporting that the White House said it would itself choose the few journalists admitted closest to the American president.
Le Figaro reported that the administration accuses the Associated Press (AP) of not conforming to the new designation of the Gulf of Mexico, renamed 'Gulf of America' by Donald Trump, and said AP was barred from access to the Oval Office and to Air Force One.
Le Figaro also said Donald Trump lashed out at AP on February 20, calling it a 'left-wing radical organization,' and quoted AP warning of 'a threat to the freedom of every American.'
Sud Ouest said Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the 'pool' would be opened to new media chosen by the American administration, while adding that 'the traditional media, which have been part of the press pool for decades, will still be allowed to participate'.
Messaging and political stakes
The CNN report tied Miller’s expected role to a messaging mission, saying he would likely take on a special government employee role specific to crafting messaging around the president’s accomplishments.
““struggled to stay on message lately””
CNN also described how Trump has “struggled to stay on message lately,” citing that his Iran war drove gas prices up sharply and that he last week abruptly refused to sign a landmark bipartisan bill meant to drive down the price of housing, later calling it “a yawn.”
The Washington Post’s roundup placed the Miller discussions alongside other Trump developments, including that Trump said the United States and Iran will negotiate again after days of strikes, with U.S. and Iranian representatives set to meet in Qatar.
In the same Washington Post item, the paper said Miller was slated to be Trump’s first White House communications director but declined the job amid allegations he had an affair with a campaign staffer.
The Straits Times said the personnel moves underscore the uphill battle the White House faces as it seeks to convince voters to keep Republicans in charge of the House and Senate, while noting that 2026 is shaping up to be no exception.
