Stephen Miller’s wife has come to his defense following a wave of online speculation suggesting he used her as a “human shield” during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The controversy arose after a photo surfaced showing Stephen, an advisor to President Donald Trump, holding his pregnant wife, Katie Miller, from behind in response to gunfire that disrupted the high-profile event on Saturday night.
The alleged shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was apprehended by security personnel in the corridor of the Washington Hilton Hotel, while attendees were swiftly evacuated for their safety.
In the midst of the commotion, Stephen was seen maneuvering behind his wife before the couple was led away by their security team.
Katie Miller addressed the incident during an interview on Fox News two days later.
“When you’re eight months pregnant, getting up from the floor is nearly impossible without assistance,” she explained on The Ingraham Angle on Monday.
‘So my dear husband lifts me up, and Brian who’s our detail says to Stephen, “she goes first”, so I went first because the threat was behind us.
‘And so what everyone sees is my husband maybe copping a feel, but what I would say is that he wasn’t going to put his hands on my stomach because that’s where our baby is, and so he just moves his hands upwards.’
Stephen Miller’s wife has defended his actions at the White House Correspondents’ dinner
Miller was seen grabbing his wife from behind as he tried to move her before they were escorted out by their security detail
When asked about human shield rumors, she said: ‘They really can’t let Stephen Miller have a good news cycle.
‘He’s done so much for this country thanks to President Trump… Stephen did a phenomenal job and he was behind me and protecting not only me but our baby.’
Stephen Miller, 40, serves as Donald Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, while Katie, 34, is also a political advisor who served as Press Secretary to former Vice President Mike Pence until 2021.
Trump attended their wedding in February 2020 and they share three children together, soon to be four.
Allen, the man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, DC with guns and knives was charged with the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump on Monday.
Federal authorities said the attack which disrupted one of Washington’s glitziest events had been planned for several weeks.
Allen, from Torrance, California, was ordered to remain jailed pending additional court hearings, and faces up to life in prison if convicted of the assassination count alone.
Katie Miller is seen leaving the ballroom after shots were fired, closely followed by her husband
Stephen Miller, 40, serves as Donald Trump’s White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, while Katie Miller, 34, is also a political advisor
The MAGA loyalist also served in the first Trump administration
Katie Miller spoke to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham and dismissed the rumors
An FBI affidavit filed in the case Monday revealed that Allen on April 6 reserved a room for himself at the Washington hotel where the event would be held weeks later under its typical tight security.
He traveled by train cross-country from California last week, checking himself into the Washington Hilton one day before the dinner with a room reserved for the weekend.
The dinner had barely begun when officials say the 31-year-old tried to race past a security barricade near the cavernous ballroom holding hundreds of journalists and their guests.
Gunfire broke out between Allen and Secret Service agents who were guarding the event.
Allen carried with him a 12-gauge pump action shotgun he bought last year and a .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol he purchased in 2023, authorities said.
‘Violence has no place in civic life,’ acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a news conference.
‘It cannot and will not be used to disrupt democratic institutions or intimidate those who serve them, and it certainly cannot continue to be used against the president of the United States.’
‘We are investigating this matter fully, we will apply the law fairly and we will ensure that accountability is swift and certain,’ he added.
Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was intercepted by security guards in the hallway of the Washington Hilton Hotel, while guests inside were rushed to safety, police have said
Allen is seen after he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by authorities at the hotel
House Speaker Mike Johnson was rushed out of the venue by Secret Service members
Allen was injured during the attack but was not shot. A Secret Service officer was shot but was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and survived.
Questions remain about how many shots Allen fired and how many officers discharged their weapons.
Blanche said investigators believe that a Secret Service agent fired five shots and that Allen discharged his shotgun at least once.
But Blanche didn’t say whether authorities have confirmed it was Allen’s bullet that struck the agent in the vest, or whether any other officers used their weapons.
Blanche said ballistics experts are still examining evidence to provide more clarity on those questions.
The Justice Department charged Allen with two additional firearms counts, including discharging a weapon during a crime of violence, but the affidavit does not allege that Allen was responsible for shooting the agent.
