Trump Campaign Gets New Communication Chief

Donald Trump’s campaign has made a subtle adjustment to its messaging strategy by appointing Tim Murtaugh, a veteran from the 2020 campaign, to head communications in the crucial final month before the election, according to Axios.

This change indicates the campaign’s leadership aims for improved messaging coordination, especially as Trump has been focusing more on policy discussions while still engaging in lengthy criticisms of Vice President Harris and other Democrats.

The shift also highlights the influence of co-campaign manager Susie Wiles, who has recently managed to keep some of Trump’s more controversial allies, like Corey Lewandowski and Laura Loomer, at a distance from the campaign’s core activities.

Murtaugh, a former journalist from Leesburg, Virginia, previously served as the communications director for Trump’s 2020 campaign. He will be responsible for overseeing research, rapid response, and social media efforts, as well as coordinating media appearances for Trump surrogates, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

He has held various positions in Republican politics, including working on George Allen’s 2000 Senate campaign, and authored a book titled “Swing Hard In Case You Hit It,” detailing his journey from battling alcohol addiction to working with Trump on Air Force One.

Murtaugh joined the current campaign as an adviser in August. The campaign is not altering any titles within its communications team to avoid the perception of a major shake-up, the sources noted.

Wiles praised the campaign’s communications team, stating, “The Trump campaign has the best communications professionals in politics today. Nobody else is even close,” and highlighted Murtaugh’s capabilities as a daily manager. Murtaugh chose not to comment.

Previously, the communications team was led by Brian Hughes, a seasoned Florida political operative who managed the campaign’s Florida operations earlier this election cycle. Hughes and Danielle Alvarez were brought onto the campaign this year during Trump’s acquisition of the Republican National Committee.