Stephen Miller, the controversial White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy under President Donald Trump, has delivered a characteristically right-wing assessment of what he's grateful for this Thanksgiving season.
Fox News appearance sparks controversy
During a Tuesday evening appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime, the senior presidential adviser combined political attacks with personal jabs, following his boss's lead in mocking Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's weight. Miller seized on the opportunity presented by the White House's annual turkey pardon ceremony, where President Trump had earlier described the Democrat as "a big fat slob."
"When I heard the name of the turkey, Waddle, that's Governor Pritzker," Miller chuckled during the interview. "We all need to lose some weight, as the president said."
Questionable claims about America's progress
The immigration hardliner's main commentary came when asked what he was thankful for this holiday season. Miller responded with a series of disputed claims about America's improvement under the Trump administration.
"I praise God every day that Donald Trump is our president and we've gone from 30 percent inflation, 20 million illegals, unlimited refugees, violent crime in our cities to security in our cities, no illegals, no more refugees, and finally a country that puts American citizens first," Miller declared.
These statements have faced significant scrutiny from fact-checkers and economists. While inflation did peak under President Joe Biden's administration during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, it reached just below 10 percent in mid-2022 - far from Miller's claimed 30 percent. Cumulative inflation during Biden's presidency totalled 21 percent, still substantially lower than Miller's assertion.
Immigration claims and falling public support
Miller's comments about undocumented migrants and "unlimited refugees" have been hotly debated across the United States, as have the effectiveness of Trump's decision to deploy federal forces into Democrat-led cities including Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Public backing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has dramatically declined, with recent polling showing support for the agency's masked raids on minority communities has collapsed to just 34 percent. The controversy has reached the White House directly, following revelations that a relative of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was recently arrested and detained by immigration authorities.
Thanksgiving traditions and political partnerships
When questioned about his personal Thanksgiving habits, Miller admitted he stays well clear of kitchen duties. "I would be incapable of helping," he confessed. "If I attempted to help it would be interpreted widely as an act of sabotage."
Instead, the political strategist explained his approach: "The safest play is to watch TV and stay out of the way as best you can. My service is saying how delicious the gravy is, how great the turkey is, how wonderful the cranberry sauce is. That's how I give back: compliments."
Miller's wife, Katie Miller, previously served as communications director to Vice President Mike Pence and has since established a successful podcasting career. Her most recent guest was House Speaker Mike Johnson, who used his platform to reflect on Thanksgiving as "a uniquely American holiday" and emphasise the need to "fight for" and "protect" freedom for future generations.
The contrasting elements of Miller's interview - from personal weight jokes to substantial policy claims - highlight the ongoing political divisions in American society, even during traditional family holidays meant for unity and gratitude.
