Stephen Miller’s Scorned Pal Predicts Brutal End to His Rise

Detailed summary

Get full access to The Daily Beast for $1 Trending Now “I think this is kind of the end of Stephen Miller’s story.” Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty…

Stephen Miller’s promotion to White House chief of staff marks the beginning of the end of his political career, his former pal has predicted.

Jason Islas, who came forward in 2017 with his account of how Miller ended their childhood friendship because of his Hispanic heritage, told the Daily Beast that he sees Miller as simply a caretaker to see a dying administration through its final days.

“I think the administration’s in hospice, and Miller’s been appointed the nurse,” Islas said.

Once the administration is over, Islas predicts, Miller’s career will die with it.

Trump announced that Miller would replace Susie Wiles after Republicans suffered sweeping losses in the midterm elections. The president later acknowledged on 60 Minutes that his immigration crackdown, which Miller helped drive, had gone over poorly with many Americans.

Islas, who works in communications, said Miller was one of his closest friends while growing up in Santa Monica.

But their friendship fell apart when they entered high school, and according to Islas, Miller started embracing white nationalist ideals. He said he was hurt at the time, but these days it “really doesn’t bother me, given what seems to attract his loyalty.”

Islas recalled his childhood friend’s unwavering fixation on certain ideas and characters, including his famous obsession with Star Trek’s Captain Kirk. Three decades later, Islas sees that same single-mindedness in Miller’s loyalty to Trump, which he believes got him the job.

“Famously he was he was an advocate for a President Trump back when everybody else thought the idea was comical, right?” Islas said, “And I don’t think he wavered, and I think ultimately I think he still doesn’t waver, right? I think that’s his main credential for being chief of staff right now.”

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