Trump campaign installs Stepien as Parscale's No. 2

Alex Isenstadt
·2 min read

Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is elevating a longtime top political adviser to the president to the role of deputy campaign manager.

Bill Stepien, who formerly served as White House political director and had been advising the reelection effort, will serve under Brad Parscale, who has been campaign manager since 2018. Those familiar with the decision, which has been under discussion for some time, said it was intended to provide further support for Parscale, who is running his first presidential campaign. But the promotion was seen by some in the White House as a check on Parscale.

Trump has long relied on Stepien, a former top adviser to then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, for political counsel. Two people familiar with the decision said Trump and Parscale played key roles giving final signoff.

Stepien has been helping to oversee the effort to ensure that GOP convention delegates are solidly behind Trump and that the kind of mayhem that took place at the 2016 confab doesn't happen again.

“It’s an honor to continue to serve President Trump so he can continue his America First agenda in a second term,” Stepien said in a statement. “I will continue to support Brad Parscale as he leads the campaign, working with all of our partners in states across the country, and helping to coordinate all of our efforts to ensure the President is re-elected.”

The campaign also announced Tuesday it was promoting Stephanie Alexander to campaign chief of staff. Alexander had been serving as the campaign’s Midwest political director.

Senior Republicans have openly warned in recent weeks that Trump and the party are in trouble in an array of battleground states — including in traditionally red states like Georgia and Arizona, where recent surveys have shown the president trailing. During a political meeting in the White House last week, the president and his top advisers complained to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about Arizona Sen. Martha McSally’s reelection standing.

Gabby Orr contributed to this report.