Katie Miller, the wife of former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, has ignited a fresh controversy by publicly claiming that her unvaccinated youngest child is significantly healthier than her fully vaccinated eldest.
Podcast Remarks Fuel Vaccine Misinformation
During an episode of her podcast aired on Tuesday 6 January 2026, Miller made the claims while in conversation with actress and prominent anti-vaccine activist Jenny McCarthy. Miller revealed that while her oldest child is fully vaccinated, her third child has not received any vaccines.
"My oldest child had milk soy protein allergy and we had struggles breastfeeding," Miller stated. "My third child was fully breastfed until age one. He is my healthiest child who never, ever gets sick. He's never been on antibiotics." She added the contentious analogy: "He is like, every day I could put like… dirt in his mouth and he will not get ill."
McCarthy, who has long falsely claimed vaccines caused her son's autism, agreed wholeheartedly. She cited anecdotal reports from other mothers, stating, "my child that is not vaccinated hasn't been to the doctor in like eight years, doesn't get sick, the strongest immune system."
Medical Consensus Versus Anecdotal Claims
These personal anecdotes starkly contradict the vast body of scientific evidence. Extensive, peer-reviewed research by global medical experts has consistently found no credible link between vaccines and autism. Vaccines are rigorously tested and are considered one of the most effective public health interventions in history, preventing serious illnesses and deaths.
During the podcast, Miller praised McCarthy and mothers like her, calling them "a mother who has done her own research" and labelling such women "the most powerful people on the planet." This framing of personal 'research' over established medical science is a common trope in anti-vaccine circles.
Political Context and International Fallout
The remarks come within a specific political context. Earlier the same week, the Trump administration announced a reduction in the number of vaccines officially recommended for children. The Department of Health and Human Services justified the move by calling the US an "outlier" compared to 20 peer nations, a decision widely criticised by public health experts.
This is not the first time Katie Miller has drawn headlines. Recently, she posted an image of Greenland covered by an American flag on social media platform X with the caption "SOON." This was an apparent endorsement of her husband's and the administration's controversial interest in acquiring the Danish territory.
The post prompted a sharp rebuke from Jesper Møller Sørensen, the Danish ambassador to the US, who demanded "full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark." Miller had also previously faced criticism for posting a video of her husband and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dancing to "Ice Ice Baby," seen by many as a nod to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The convergence of personal health claims with high-profile political stances underscores the ongoing battle between scientific authority and personal belief in certain segments of American public life, with potential implications for public health policy and international diplomacy.
