Top Trump Officials Move To Military Bases Amid Rising Political Violence
High-profile officials in President Trump’s administration are relocating to live on U.S. military bases — seeking increased security after cases of harassment and amid fears of rising political violence.
At least six Trump Cabinet members now live in military housing, according to The Atlantic. Presidential Cabinet members have lived in military housing before, including former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, but the current number is unprecedented.
WHO THEY ARE
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller moved to military housing after he and his family reported being harassed in their north Arlington, Virginia, neighborhood. The antagonization reportedly worsened following the assassination of Charlie Kirk last month.
Miller’s wife, Katie, posted a viral video of her washing away chalk messages outside their home in September. The chalk read: “STEPHEN MILLER IS DESTROYING DEMOCRACY!” Other graffiti read, “MILLER IS PREYING ON FAMILIES.”
Arlington Neighbors United for Humanity, a self-described anti-extremism group, took credit for the chalk graffiti. The group has also organized protests near the homes of Miller and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. They’ve also posted messages on Instagram comparing Miller to a Nazi.
The Millers shortly afterwards put their house up for sale, listed on realtor.com for $3.75 million.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also moved out of her D.C. apartment in August and into a building designated for the Coast Guard, where she does not pay rent, according to the Washington Post.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, and another unnamed official live on Army bases.
During the Biden administration, protesters also targeted some officials’ homes.
BIGGER PICTURE
The move to military bases come as political violence in the U.S. has reached levels not seen in decades. The line between protest and political violence, in recent years, appears to be getting crossed.
The firebombing of Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro’s home in Pennsylvania in April, the shooting of two Democratic state lawmakers in Minnesota in June, the 2022 assault on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband inside their San Francisco home, and the attempted attack on Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his house in 2022 all underscore the escalation — and have revealed that senior officials’ homes have not been that secure.