What Happened to Stephanie Grisham?

Stephanie Grisham's political career saw a rapid ascent within Donald Trump's orbit, beginning as a press aide for his 2016 presidential campaign. After Trump's inauguration, she moved to the East Wing, serving as press secretary and communications director for First Lady Melania Trump from 2017 to 2019. Her loyalty and skill in handling the press led to her appointment as White House Press Secretary and White House Communications Director in July 2019, succeeding Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Notably, Grisham became the first White House press secretary in history to hold no formal press briefings during her entire tenure, a decision she later attributed to not wanting to "stand at that podium and lie."

In April 2020, Grisham transitioned back to the East Wing, assuming the role of Chief of Staff to First Lady Melania Trump. Her time in the administration came to an abrupt end on January 6, 2021, when she resigned in the hours immediately following the storming of the U.S. Capitol, citing the conduct of Trump and his advisors as her reason. This marked a significant turning point, as Grisham subsequently became a vocal critic of the former president.

Following her departure, Grisham penned a tell-all memoir, "I'll Take Your Questions Now: What I Saw at the Trump White House," published in September 2021. The book offered an intimate, albeit critical, look into the Trump White House, detailing her experiences and growing disillusionment. She further engaged with the aftermath of the Trump presidency by testifying to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack on multiple occasions in 2022, providing new names and lines of inquiry regarding the events leading up to and during the riot.

Grisham continued to distance herself from the Republican Party's pro-Trump faction. In April 2022, she moved to Plainville, Kansas, seeking a quieter life while still aiming to engage with and persuade Trump supporters. A significant public break occurred on August 20, 2024, when Grisham spoke at the Democratic National Convention, delivering a speech where she criticized Trump's character and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, stating, "Kamala Harris tells the truth, she respects the American people, and she has my vote."

As of August 2026, Grisham remains in the public eye due to legal developments. On July 7, 2026, she filed a new lawsuit against Ohio Representative Max Miller, her former boyfriend and a former White House staffer. The lawsuit alleges that Miller violated the terms of a confidential settlement agreement they had reached in 2023, which resolved a previous defamation lawsuit Miller had filed against Grisham. Grisham's initial allegations, made in her book and a Washington Post op-ed, described physical abuse by an unnamed White House staffer, later identified as Miller. This ongoing legal battle highlights her continued engagement with the consequences of her time in the Trump administration.