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{{Short description|American political advisor}}
{{Short description|American political operative (born 1982)}}
{{other people||Steven Cheung (disambiguation){{!}}Steven Cheung}}
{{Infobox person
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox politician
| name = Steven Cheung
| name = Steven Cheung
| image =
| image = Steven Cheung addresses press outside Trump trial in New York 05-28-24 A (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|06|23}}
| office = [[White House Communications Director]]
| birth_place = [[Sacramento, California]], U.S.
| status = Designate
| education = [[California State University, Sacramento]]
| president = [[Donald Trump]] (elect)
| term_start = January 20, 2025
| term_end =
| succeeding = [[Ben LaBolt]]
| predecessor = [[Ben LaBolt]]
| successor =
| birth_name = Huyen Cheung
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|6|23}}
| birth_place = [[Sacramento, California]], U.S
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| education = [[California State University, Sacramento]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
}}
}}
'''Huyen''' "'''Steven'''" '''Cheung''' (born June 23, 1982) is an American political advisor serving as President-elect [[Donald Trump]]'s campaign spokesman in the [[2024 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |date=June 18, 2023 |title=In Nevada, DeSantis Sells Republicans on Ending 'Culture of Losing' |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/us/politics/ron-desantis-nevada-republican-primary.html |access-date=June 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite press release|title= President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces Second Wave of Additional White House Staff |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announces-second-wave-additional-white-house|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=The American Presidency Project}}</ref> He previously worked in [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|Trump's 2016]] and [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|2020 campaigns]]. He also worked in communications for the sports organization [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] based in [[Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|last=Flood|first=Brian|date=July 11, 2016|title=Donald Trump Hires UFC Executive as He Gears Up for Fight Against Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ufc-donald-trump-campaign-presidential-election-hillary-clinton-steven-cheung/|access-date=February 17, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Who Is Steven Cheung? What To Know About Trump's Incoming Communications Director |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/11/15/who-is-steven-cheung-what-to-know-about-trumps-incoming-communications-director/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Forbes}}</ref>


In November 2024, he was named [[White House Communications Director|White House communications director]] for the incoming Donald Trump administration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trump to tap campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung as communications director |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/15/trump-transition-steven-cheung-communications-director-00189857| website=politico.com| date=November 15, 2024| first1=Meridith| last1=McGraw| first2=Rachael| last2=Bade}}</ref>
'''Steven Cheung''' (born June 23, 1982) is an American political advisor who is Donald Trump's campaign spokesman in the 2023-24 Republican primary and served in the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Donald J. Trump administration]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vigdor |first=Neil |date=2023-06-18 |title=In Nevada, DeSantis Sells Republicans on Ending ‘Culture of Losing’ |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/us/politics/ron-desantis-nevada-republican-primary.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|title=Press Release - President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces Second Wave of Additional White House Staff {{!}} The American Presidency Project|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announces-second-wave-additional-white-house|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu}}</ref> He previously worked in [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|Trump’s 2016]] and [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|2020 campaigns]]. He also worked in communications for the sports organization [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] based in [[Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|last=Flood|first=Brian|date=2016-07-11|title=Donald Trump Hires UFC Executive as He Gears Up for Fight Against Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ufc-donald-trump-campaign-presidential-election-hillary-clinton-steven-cheung/|access-date=2022-02-17|language=en-US}}</ref>


== Early life and education ==
== Early life ==
Cheung was born in [[Sacramento, California]], to Chinese parents who had immigrated to the U.S. and was raised in Sacramento.<ref name="cage">{{Cite magazine |last=Sokolove |first=Michael |title=How Trump's 2024 campaign became a bloody cage fight |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/donald-trump-spokesman-steven-cheung-ufc/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |magazine=Mother Jones}}</ref><ref name="scmp.com">{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Meet Donald Trump's 'sumo wrestler' campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3260339/meet-donald-trumps-sumo-wrestler-spokesman-steven-cheung-he-interned-under-arnold-schwarzenegger-did |access-date=May 22, 2024 |newspaper=South China Morning Post}}</ref> He was a high school football player.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sokolove |first=Michael |title=How Trump's 2024 campaign became a bloody cage fight |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/donald-trump-spokesman-steven-cheung-ufc/ |access-date=May 22, 2024 |magazine=Mother Jones}}</ref> He attended [[California State University, Sacramento]], majoring in computer science and political science.<ref name="cage"/>

Cheung was born in [[Sacramento, California]] and was raised in South Sacramento. He attended [[California State University, Sacramento]] where he majored in [[Computer science|Computer Science]], [[Electrical engineering|Engineering]], and [[Political science|Government]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|last1=Bade|first1=Rachael|last2=Palmeri|first2=Tara|title=Politico Playbook: Schumer strategy leaves some Dems seething|url=https://politi.co/3H03UlZ|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Politico|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Revolving Door: Steven Cheung Education |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/education.php?id=79298|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.opensecrets.org|language=en}}</ref>{{failed verification}}


== Career ==
== Career ==


===Political campaigns and UFC===
===Political campaigns and UFC===
As a college student in 2003, Cheung became an intern in then-Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]'s communications and speechwriting office in California.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Steven Cheung, senior communications adviser for the Trump reelect|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/23/playbook-birthday-steven-cheung-335271|access-date=August 29, 2024|website=[[Politico (website)|Politico]]|date=June 23, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|first1=Lachlan |last1=Markay |first2=Alayna |last2=Treene |first3=Jonathan |last3=Swan|title=Caitlyn Jenner files paperwork to run for governor of California|url=https://www.axios.com/caitlyn-jenner-california-governor-run-710153ef-7a89-460d-b9ec-9efed2a9399f.html|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|date=April 23, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> He moved to [[Washington, D.C.]] in 2008 to work on [[John McCain 2008 presidential campaign|John McCain's presidential campaign]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 11, 2016|first=Alison|last=Kanski|title=Trump campaign bulks up comms team with Bryan Lanza and Steven Cheung|url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1401930|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=prweek.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sokolove |first=Michael |title=How Trump's 2024 campaign became a bloody cage fight |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/04/donald-trump-spokesman-steven-cheung-ufc/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}</ref> Cheung has served on the campaigns of [[Steve Poizner]] for [[2010 California gubernatorial election|California governor]], [[Sharron Angle]] for [[2010 United States Senate elections|U.S. Senate]], and [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Texas Lt. Governor]] [[David Dewhurst]] for [[2012 United States Senate elections|U.S. Senate]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ted Cruz says David Dewhurst's camp called him a Chinese Communist|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/oct/11/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-says-david-dewhursts-camp-called-him-chin/|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Politico]]|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2013, Cheung transitioned into a career with the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] in [[Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada]], where he worked as "a director of communications for public affairs at the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]]".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Donald Trump Hires UFC Press Agent to Be His New "Rapid Response" Guy|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/kbdbje/donald-trump-hires-ufc-press-agent-to-be-his-new-rapid-response-guy|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=vice.com|date=July 12, 2016 |language=en}}</ref> He was involved in the UFC practice of banning reporters critical of the organization from live events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Donald Trump has hired a former UFC executive for presidential campaign |url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/mma/donald-trump-has-hired-a-former-ufc-executive-for-presidential-campaign-86927 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |website=SportsJOE.ie |date=July 12, 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

Cheung began his political career in [[Arnold Schwarzenegger|Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger]]’s administration in California.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|first1=Lachlan |last1=Markay |first2=Alayna |last2=Treene |first3=Jonathan |last3=Swan|title=Caitlyn Jenner files paperwork to run for governor of California|url=https://www.axios.com/caitlyn-jenner-california-governor-run-710153ef-7a89-460d-b9ec-9efed2a9399f.html|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Axios|date=23 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref> He later moved to [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, DC]] to work on the [[John McCain 2008 presidential campaign|John McCain presidential campaign]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 11, 2016|first=Alison|last=Kanski|title=Trump campaign bulks up comms team with Bryan Lanza and Steven Cheung|url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1401930?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.prweek.com|language=en}}</ref> Cheung has served on the campaigns of [[Steve Poizner]] for [[2010 California gubernatorial election|California governor]], [[Sharron Angle]] for [[2010 United States Senate elections|U.S. Senate]], and [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Texas Lt. Governor]] [[David Dewhurst|David Dewhust]] for [[2012 United States Senate elections|U.S. Senate]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=PolitiFact - Ted Cruz says David Dewhurst's camp called him a Chinese Communist|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/oct/11/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-says-david-dewhursts-camp-called-him-chin/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=@politifact|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2013, Cheung transitioned into a career with the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he worked as "a director of communications for public affairs at the UFC."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Donald Trump Hires UFC Press Agent to Be His New "Rapid Response" Guy|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/kbdbje/donald-trump-hires-ufc-press-agent-to-be-his-new-rapid-response-guy|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.vice.com|language=en}}</ref>


=== Trump 2016 campaign and transition ===
=== Trump 2016 campaign and transition ===
Before then-candidate [[Donald Trump]] was nominated as the Republican presidential nominee at the [[Republican National Convention]] in [[2016 Republican National Convention|2016]], Cheung left his job at the UFC and joined the [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|Trump campaign's]] communications and press team as Director of Rapid Response.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 11, 2016|title=Donald Trump hires former UFC staffer to presidential campaign|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/donald-trump-hires-ufc-staffer-campaign|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=For The Win|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> His duties included "keeping the campaign up to date on breaking news and pushing back on false or unbalanced reporting" according to a press release.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=Trump Campaign Announces Expansion of Communications Team |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-trump-campaign-announces-expansion-communications-team|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=The American Presidency Project|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217063612/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-trump-campaign-announces-expansion-communications-team|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Cheung was involved{{How|date=August 2024}} in a statement disavowing support from the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and a [[White supremacy|white supremacist]] newspaper, who endorsed Trump's campaign. He said, "Mr. Trump and the campaign denounces hate in any form. This publication is repulsive and their views do not represent the tens of millions of Americans who are uniting behind our campaign."<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 2, 2016|title=Ku Klux Klan newspaper declares support for Trump|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-kkk-idUSKBN12X2IG|access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref>
Before then-candidate [[Donald Trump]] was nominated as the Republican presidential nominee at the [[Republican National Convention]] in [[2016 Republican National Convention|2016]], Cheung left his job at the UFC and joined the [[Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign|Trump campaign’s]] communications and press team as Director of Rapid Response.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 11, 2016|title=Donald Trump hires former UFC staffer to presidential campaign|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/07/donald-trump-hires-ufc-staffer-campaign|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=For The Win|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> His duties included “keeping the campaign up to date on breaking news and pushing back on false or unbalanced reporting” according to a press release.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Press Release - Trump Campaign Announces Expansion of Communications Team {{!}} The American Presidency Project|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-trump-campaign-announces-expansion-communications-team|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu}}</ref>


After Trump's victory over [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate [[Hillary Clinton]], Cheung was named as an advisor to the [[First presidential transition of Donald Trump|presidential transition]] team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump adds vice chairs to transition team, including several women|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/11/trump-adds-vice-chairs-to-transition-team-including-several-women-231975|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Politico]]|date=November 29, 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|title=President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces New Vice Chairs and Executive Committee Members Serving on Presidential Transition Team|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announces-new-vice-chairs-and-executive|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=The American Presidency Project}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Heath|date=December 12, 2016|title=Focus on communications, not policy, sets Trump transition apart|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/309937-extreme-focus-on-communications-not-policy-sets-trump|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref> According to media reports, he was at one point considered for the role of [[White House Press Secretary]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=White House press briefings could be totally bonkers under Donald Trump|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/12/white-house-press-briefings-could-be-totally-bonkers-under-donald-trump/|access-date=February 17, 2022|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> That job ultimately went to [[Sean Spicer]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 22, 2016 |title=Trump names Sean Spicer press secretary, announces other senior members of his press team |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/22/trump-names-sean-spicer-press-secretary-announces-other-senior-members-of-his-press-team.html |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=[[CNBC]] |language=en}}</ref>
Cheung was involved in a controversial statement disavowing support from the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and a [[White supremacy|white supremacist]] newspaper, who endorsed Trump’s campaign. He said, “Mr. Trump and the campaign denounces hate in any form. This publication is repulsive and their views do not represent the tens of millions of Americans who are uniting behind our campaign.” This led to backlash from many of Trump’s [[Nationalism|nationalist]] supporters.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-11-02|title=Ku Klux Klan newspaper declares support for Trump|language=en|agency=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-kkk-idUSKBN12X2IG|access-date=2022-02-17}}</ref>

After Trump’s victory over [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate [[Hillary Clinton]], Cheung was named as an advisor to the [[Presidential transition of Donald Trump|Presidential Transition]] team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump adds vice chairs to transition team, including several women|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/11/trump-adds-vice-chairs-to-transition-team-including-several-women-231975|access-date=2022-02-17|website=[[Politico]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Press Release - President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces New Vice Chairs and Executive Committee Members Serving on Presidential Transition Team {{!}} The American Presidency Project|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-president-elect-donald-j-trump-announces-new-vice-chairs-and-executive|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Heath|date=2016-12-12|title=Focus on communications, not policy, sets Trump transition apart|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/309937-extreme-focus-on-communications-not-policy-sets-trump|access-date=2022-02-17|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref> According to media reports, he was at one point considered for the role of [[White House Press Secretary]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=White House press briefings could be totally bonkers under Donald Trump|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/12/white-house-press-briefings-could-be-totally-bonkers-under-donald-trump/|access-date=2022-02-17|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> That job ultimately went to [[Sean Spicer]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-22 |title=Trump names Sean Spicer press secretary, announces other senior members of his press team |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/22/trump-names-sean-spicer-press-secretary-announces-other-senior-members-of-his-press-team.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=[[CNBC]] |language=en}}</ref>


=== Trump White House ===
=== Trump White House ===
Cheung was named as Special Assistant to the President and Assistant Communications Director at the White House on January 19, 2017, one day prior to [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|Trump's inauguration]].<ref name="auto2"/>
He was part of a team tasked with helping [[Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination|nominate]] and confirm [[Neil Gorsuch]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]]. Gorsuch was eventually confirmed to the Supreme Court by the [[United States Senate]] by a 54–45 vote.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|last=Karni|first=Annie|title=White House aide Steven Cheung leaves communications staff|url=https://politi.co/2l0T0Um|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Politico]]|date=June 11, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
Shortly after Gorsuch's confirmation, Cheung assumed a different position at the White House.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Estepa |first=Jessica |title=Hope Hicks is officially the White House communications director |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/09/12/hope-hicks-officially-white-house-communications-director/657008001/ |access-date=May 21, 2022 |website=[[USA Today]] |language=en-US}}</ref>


On August 16, 2017, Cheung was appointed as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Response.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 13, 2017|title=Political power plays|url=https://www.axios.com/political-power-plays-1513305467-2dc1f2ed-9afa-4c12-be87-157efab6c7ca.html|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|language=en}}</ref> He then worked on the passage of Trump's tax reform bill, the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sanchez|first=Luis|date=June 11, 2018|title=White House communications aide Steven Cheung leaves position: report|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/391688-white-house-communications-aide-leaves-white-house|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref> The bill successfully passed [[United States Congress|Congress]] and Trump signed it into law on December 22, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Here's When the GOP Tax Reform Bill Will Take Effect|url=https://fortune.com/2017/12/20/gop-tax-bill-cuts-start/|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|language=en}}</ref>
Cheung was named as Special Assistant to the President and Assistant Communications Director at the White House on January 19, 2017, one day prior to [[Inauguration of Donald Trump|Trump’s inauguration]].<ref name="auto2"/>
He was part of a team tasked with helping [[Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination|nominate]] and confirm [[Neil Gorsuch]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]]. Amid controversies about his past relating to [[plagiarism]] in his book ''The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia'', Gorsuch was eventually confirmed to the Supreme Court by the [[United States Senate]] by a 54–45 vote.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|last=Karni|first=Annie|title=White House aide Steven Cheung leaves communications staff|url=https://politi.co/2l0T0Um|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Politico|language=en}}</ref>
Shortly after Gorsuch’s confirmation, Cheung was announced to a new role within the White House.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Estepa |first=Jessica |title=Hope Hicks is officially the White House communications director |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/09/12/hope-hicks-officially-white-house-communications-director/657008001/ |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref>


According to the book ''Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington'', Cheung, along with three others, were referred to as "the killers" in the White House by [[Jared Kushner]] and [[Steve Bannon|Stephen Bannon]]. They were considered by Bannon to be "innovative and action oriented".<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Markay|first1=Lachlan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WyLKDwAAQBAJ&dq=Steven+Cheung+Trump+book&pg=PA128|title=Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington|last2=Suebsaeng|first2=Asawin|year=2020|publisher=Penguin|page=130 |isbn=978-1-9848-7856-4|language=en}}</ref>
On August 16, 2017, he was appointed as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Response.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-13|title=Political power plays|url=https://www.axios.com/political-power-plays-1513305467-2dc1f2ed-9afa-4c12-be87-157efab6c7ca.html|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Axios|language=en}}</ref> He then worked on the passage of Trump’s tax reform bill, the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sanchez|first=Luis|date=2018-06-11|title=White House communications aide Steven Cheung leaves position: report|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/391688-white-house-communications-aide-leaves-white-house|access-date=2022-02-17|website=TheHill|language=en}}</ref> The bill successfully passed [[United States Congress|Congress]] and Trump signed it into law on December 22, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Here's When the GOP Tax Reform Bill Will Take Effect|url=https://fortune.com/2017/12/20/gop-tax-bill-cuts-start/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Fortune|language=en}}</ref>


On June 11, 2018, [[Politico]] reported Cheung left the White House,<ref name="scmp.com"/> amid a contentious period with Chief of Staff [[John F. Kelly]] making changes to Trump's White House communications staff. Amid leaks and infighting, Kelly overhauled the communications team, which led to additional departures.<ref name="auto3"/> It was later revealed that Cheung's annual White House salary was $131,000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bindrim|first=Kira|title=All of Donald Trump's White House staffers, ranked by salary|url=https://qz.com/1019868/who-makes-the-most-money-in-trumps-white-house/|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=Quartz|date=July 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Cheung later appeared in a contentious interview with CNN on June 28, 2018, where critics accused him of politicizing the confirmation process of the United States Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN - Transcripts |url=http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1806/28/nday.03.html |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref>
According to the book ''Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump’s Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington'', Cheung, along with three others, were referred to as “the killers” in the White House by [[Jared Kushner]] and [[Steve Bannon|Stephen Bannon]]. They were considered{{By whom|date=June 2022}} “innovative and action oriented”.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Markay|first1=Lachlan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WyLKDwAAQBAJ&dq=Steven+Cheung+Trump+book&pg=PA128|title=Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington|last2=Suebsaeng|first2=Asawin|date=2020|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-1-9848-7856-4|language=en}}</ref>

On June 11, 2018, [[Politico]] reported Cheung left the White House amid a contentious period with Chief of Staff [[John F. Kelly]] making changes to Trump’s White House communications staff. Amid leaks and infighting, Kelly overhauled the communications team, which led to additional departures.<ref name="auto3"/> [[The New York Times|''New York Times'']] White House journalist [[Maggie Haberman]] reported on [[CNN]] that “Cheung's name had been on several lists going back to 2017 of people who could be on the chopping block. And it has been surprising every single time. He was on the campaign. He was seen as a high performer. He was one of the hardest workers. He was involved, from the White House end, in the Gorsuch nomination coms effort, and he was involved the tax reform coms effort” and he was “one of the more respected members of [the communications] staff on the campaign.”<ref>{{Cite web|title=CNN.com - Transcripts|url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1806/11/cg.02.html|access-date=2022-02-17|website=edition.cnn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|date=2018-06-11|title=Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/maggienyt/status/1006262404261535744|url-status=live|archive-url=https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/1006262404261535744|archive-date=2018-06-11|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> It was later revealed that Cheung’s annual White House salary was $131,000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bindrim|first=Kira|title=All of Donald Trump's White House staffers, ranked by salary|url=https://qz.com/1019868/who-makes-the-most-money-in-trumps-white-house/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Quartz|date=July 2017 |language=en}}</ref>


=== Trump 2020 campaign ===
=== Trump 2020 campaign ===
Politico reported that [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign]] retained the services of the firm Solgence, which is owned and operated by Cheung.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beavers|first=David|title=Former Trump staffers consulting for president's reelect|url=https://politi.co/2z4DsWE|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Politico]]|date=August 15, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> As part of the 2020 campaign, Cheung worked on putting together the [[2020 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] in the midst of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scherer|first=Michael|date=August 28, 2020|title=Republicans try to change President Trump's image for skeptical voters|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-try-to-change-president-trumps-image-for-skeptical-voters/2020/08/28/00bdc284-e871-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref>


After the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 US presidential election]], in which Trump was defeated by [[Joe Biden]], Cheung was involved in the Trump campaign's efforts to [[Big lie#Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election|overturn the election]]. Despite Trump's claims, according to experts, there has been no evidence of [[Electoral fraud|election fraud]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Corasaniti|first1=Nick|last2=Epstein|first2=Reid J.|last3=Rutenberg|first3=Jim|date=November 11, 2020|title=The Times Called Officials in Every State: No Evidence of Voter Fraud|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/us/politics/voting-fraud.html|access-date=February 17, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Farley|first=Robert|date=November 8, 2020|title=FactCheck: Trump sticks with bogus voter fraud claim|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/factcheck/FactCheck-Trump-sticks-with-bogus-voter-fraud-claim.html|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Farley|first=Robert|date=November 28, 2016|title=Trump Sticks With Bogus Voter Fraud Claims|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2016/11/trump-sticks-with-bogus-voter-fraud-claims/|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=FactCheck.org|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Wolfe|first=Jan|date=January 6, 2022|title=Factbox: Trump's false claims debunked: the 2020 election and Jan. 6 riot|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-false-claims-debunked-2020-election-jan-6-riot-2022-01-06/|access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref>
Politico reported that President Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign retained the services of the firm Solgence, which is owned and operated by Cheung.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beavers|first=David|title=Former Trump staffers consulting for president's reelect|url=https://politi.co/2z4DsWE|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Politico|language=en}}</ref> As part of the 2020 campaign, Cheung worked on putting together the [[2020 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] in the midst of the [[COVID-19|Covid-19]] [[COVID-19 pandemic|global pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scherer|first=Michael|date=2020-08-28|title=Republicans try to change President Trump's image for skeptical voters|pages=|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-try-to-change-president-trumps-image-for-skeptical-voters/2020/08/28/00bdc284-e871-11ea-970a-64c73a1c2392_story.html|access-date=2022-02-18}}</ref>


=== Post-Trump presidency ===
After the election where Trump was defeated by [[Joe Biden]], Cheung was involved in the Trump campaign’s efforts to [[Big lie|overturn the election]]. Despite Trump’s baseless claims, there has been no evidence of [[Electoral fraud|election fraud]], according to experts.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Corasaniti|first1=Nick|last2=Epstein|first2=Reid J.|last3=Rutenberg|first3=Jim|date=2020-11-11|title=The Times Called Officials in Every State: No Evidence of Voter Fraud|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/us/politics/voting-fraud.html|access-date=2022-02-17|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Farley|first=Robert|date=2020-11-08|title=FactCheck: Trump sticks with bogus voter fraud claim|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/factcheck/FactCheck-Trump-sticks-with-bogus-voter-fraud-claim.html|url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Farley|first=Robert|date=2016-11-28|title=Trump Sticks With Bogus Voter Fraud Claims|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2016/11/trump-sticks-with-bogus-voter-fraud-claims/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=FactCheck.org|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Wolfe|first=Jan|date=2022-01-06|title=Factbox: Trump's false claims debunked: the 2020 election and Jan. 6 riot|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-false-claims-debunked-2020-election-jan-6-riot-2022-01-06/|access-date=2022-02-17}}</ref>
Cheung was named the spokesman of the [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|Trump 2024 presidential campaign]]. After Trump was criticized in October 2023 for his statement that undocumented immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country," echoing language of white supremacists and [[Adolf Hitler]], Cheung responded:


{{blockquote|That's a normal phrase that is used in everyday life – in books, television, movies, and in news articles. For anyone to think that is racist or xenophobic is living in an alternate reality consumed with non-sensical [''sic''] outrage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Kate |title=Trump's anti-immigrant comments draw rebuke |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/06/politics/trump-anti-immigrant-comments/index.html |work=CNN|date=October 6, 2023}}</ref>}}
=== Post Trump presidency ===


After Trump was criticized in November 2023 for referring to his political opponents as "vermin", Cheung said:
Cheung was a senior advisor on the [[2022 United States Senate elections|2022 U.S. Senate]] campaign of former [[List of governors of Missouri|Missouri Governor]] [[Eric Greitens]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|url=http://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_78fb1dc51adf3c7f2327141e1dd1b17e|access-date=2022-02-17|website=lite.cnn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Treene|first=Alayna|title=Trump Republicans eager to dethrone McConnell as GOP leader|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-allies-dethrone-mcconnell-4aa5a197-74db-4a6c-a702-d22d17613b70.html|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Axios|date=15 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>


{{blockquote|Those who try to make that ridiculous assertion are clearly [[Snowflake (slang)|snowflakes]] grasping for anything because they are suffering from [[Trump Derangement Syndrome]] and their sad, miserable existence will be crushed when President Trump returns to the White House.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gold |first=Michael |title=After Calling Foes 'Vermin,' Trump Campaign Warns Its Critics Will Be 'Crushed' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/us/politics/trump-vermin-rhetoric-fascists.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 13, 2023}}</ref>}}
It was reported in [[Axios (website)|Axios]] that Cheung joined as senior advisor to reality star [[Caitlyn Jenner]]'s gubernatorial campaign in California during the [[California gubernatorial recall election|2021 recall election]]. Jenner’s bid for governor was unsuccessful.<ref name="auto"/>


Cheung was a senior advisor on the [[2022 United States Senate elections|2022 U.S. Senate]] campaign of former [[List of governors of Missouri|Missouri Governor]] [[Eric Greitens]], who resigned amid allegations of sexual assault and campaign finance impropriety.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|url=http://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_78fb1dc51adf3c7f2327141e1dd1b17e|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=lite.cnn.com|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217063603/http://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_78fb1dc51adf3c7f2327141e1dd1b17e|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Treene|first=Alayna|title=Trump Republicans eager to dethrone McConnell as GOP leader|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-allies-dethrone-mcconnell-4aa5a197-74db-4a6c-a702-d22d17613b70.html|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|date=15 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
Cheung also served as an advisor and spokesperson for former congressman [[Jim Renacci|Jim Renacci’s]] [[2022 Ohio gubernatorial election|2022 campaign for Ohio governor]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ball|first=Brian|date=2021-08-18|title=Renacci Asks Ohio Attorney General, Secretary of State to Investigate Sources of DeWine Campaign Cash|url=https://theohiostar.com/2021/08/18/renacci-asks-ohio-attorney-general-secretary-of-state-to-investigate-sources-of-dewine-campaign-cash/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=The Ohio Star|language=en-US}}</ref>


[[Axios (website)|Axios]] reported that Cheung joined as senior advisor to reality star [[Caitlyn Jenner]]'s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in California during the [[California gubernatorial recall election|2021 recall election]].<ref name="auto"/>
Media outlets reported in 2022 that Cheung began advising cryptocurrency entrepreneur and philanthropist [[Brock Pierce]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreckinger |first=Ben |title=Bannon is helping a Vermont crypto bro get elected to the Senate |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/22/bannon-is-helping-a-vermont-crypto-bro-get-elected-to-the-senate-00027264 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Politico |language=en}}</ref>


Cheung also served as an advisor and spokesperson for former congressman [[Jim Renacci]]'s [[2022 Ohio gubernatorial election|2022 campaign for Ohio governor]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ball|first=Brian|date=August 18, 2021|title=Renacci Asks Ohio Attorney General, Secretary of State to Investigate Sources of DeWine Campaign Cash|url=https://theohiostar.com/2021/08/18/renacci-asks-ohio-attorney-general-secretary-of-state-to-investigate-sources-of-dewine-campaign-cash/|access-date=February 17, 2022|website=The Ohio Star|language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Congressional campaign ===


Media outlets reported in 2022 that Cheung began advising [[cryptocurrency]] entrepreneur and philanthropist [[Brock Pierce]], a former child star linked to Jeffrey Epstein and the DEN collapse & financial & sex scandal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masters |first=Kim |date=2019-09-18 |title=The Strange Saga of Jeffrey Epstein's Link to a Child Star Turned Cryptocurrency Mogul |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/strange-saga-jeffrey-epstein-s-link-brock-pierce-1240462/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreckinger |first=Ben |title=Bannon is helping a Vermont crypto bro get elected to the Senate |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/22/bannon-is-helping-a-vermont-crypto-bro-get-elected-to-the-senate-00027264 |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=[[Politico]]|date=April 22, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
Politico reported on January 25, 2022 that Cheung was eyeing a [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] seat in [[California's 8th congressional district|California’s 8th Congressional District]] after Rep. [[Jerry McNerney]] (D) announced his retirement.<ref name="auto1"/>


==== Arlington National Cemetery incident ====
=== Non-political work ===
On August 27, 2024, an incident occurred at [[Arlington National Cemetery]] in which two Trump staffers, Justin Caporale and Michel Picard, shoved a cemetery employee who was trying to stop the Trump team from photographing and video recording a campaign promotion in a heavily restricted area of the cemetery known as Section 60, a burial site that is primarily reserved for veterans of the [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]] wars. A federal law prohibits the use of U.S. military facilities, cemeteries in particular, for political campaigns.


Cheung claimed the woman was "suffering from a mental health episode," which military officials said was false. He alleged the cemetery employee "initiated physical contact that was unwarranted and unnecessary" and said the campaign would release video to support its account, which it never did. The cemetery employee filed an incident report with military officials, but declined to press charges, fearing retribution from Trump supporters. Cheung characterized that concern as "ridiculous and sounds like someone who has&nbsp;Trump Derangement Syndrome". The Trump campaign posted a&nbsp;TikTok&nbsp;video of the visit the next day, during which Trump is heard criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for the&nbsp;U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite news | author = Fowler, Stephen | author2 = Bowman, Tom | author3 = Lawrence, Quil | title = Trump deputy campaign manager identified in Arlington National Cemetery dustup | url = https://www.npr.org/2024/09/05/nx-s1-5101991/trump-campaign-arlington-national-cemetery-staff-debate | work = NPR | date = September 5, 2024 | access-date = September 21, 2024 | language = English | quote = The two staffers, according to a source with knowledge of the incident, are deputy campaign manager Justin Caporale and Michel Picard, a member of Trump’s advance team.}}</ref><ref name="NPR Arlington">{{Cite news |last=Bowman |first=Tom |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Trump Campaign Staff had Altercation with Official at Arlington National Cemetery |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/08/27/nx-s1-5091154/trump-arlington-cemetery |access-date=August 30, 2024 |work=NPR}}</ref><ref name="NYT Arlington1">{{Cite web |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=August 27, 2024 |title=Trump Team Clashed with Official at Arlington National Cemetery |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/us/politics/trump-arlington-cemetery-clash.html |access-date=August 30, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="NYT Arlington2">{{Cite web |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Trump Videos at Grave Dismay Family of Green Beret Buried at Arlington |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/28/us/politics/trump-arlington-cemetery.html |access-date=August 30, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="ABC Arlington">{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Soo Rin |last2=Walsh |first2=Kelsey |last3=Ibssa |first3=Lalee |last4=Murray |first4=Isabella |title=Trump posts campaign video of Arlington National Cemetery visit after 'incident' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Photos/arlington-national-cemetery-confirms-incident-trump-team-remembrance/story?id=113201141 |access-date=August 30, 2024 |publisher=ABC News |date=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
Cheung has written opinion articles for ''[[USA Today]]'', [[Fox News]], and the ''[[Washington Examiner]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cheung|first=Steven|title=Hawaii's Mauna Kea must be respected. Build the Thirty Meter Telescope somewhere else.|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/09/06/hawaii-mauna-kea-respected-build-thirty-meter-telescope-somewhere-column/2078408001/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Cheung|first=Steven|date=2018-11-29|title=Trump is winning on trade -- Don't let the 'experts' fool you|url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-is-winning-on-trade-dont-let-the-experts-fool-you|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-24|title=The coronavirus came from China. That's not racism; it's a fact|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/coronavirus-came-from-china-thats-not-racism-its-a-fact|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Washington Examiner|language=en}}</ref>


===MAGA Inc.===
He was inducted into the [[Cauliflower Alley Club]] as a Lifetime Member. The [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit organization]] helps improves the lives of former [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestlers]] and celebrating their past achievements.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lifetime Members - Cauliflower Alley Club|url=https://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/lifetime-members|access-date=2022-02-17|website=www.caulifloweralleyclub.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Birthday of the Day: Steven Cheung, senior communications adviser for the Trump reelect|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/23/playbook-birthday-steven-cheung-335271|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Politico|language=en}}</ref>
As of 2023, Cheung was the communications director of Trump's [[MAGA Inc.]] super PAC.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/10/25/trump-campaign-lacivita/ "Trump eyes longtime Virginia operative for senior 2024 campaign role"], ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/10/26/trump-linked-super-pac-spends-millions-in-these-key-senate-races/|title=Trump-Linked Super PAC Spends Millions In These Key Senate Races|first=Sara|last=Dorn|date=October 26, 2022|website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/23/trump-midterms-2024-pac-00058515|title=Trump to unleash millions in the midterms in possible prelude to 2024|first=Alex|last=Isenstadt|date=September 23, 2022|website=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/23/politics/donald-trump-allies-super-pac/index.html|title=Trump allies launch new super PAC to bolster GOP candidates in midterms as former President eyes 2024 campaign |author=Gabby Orr, Dan Merica, Fredreka Schouten|date=September 23, 2022|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/6236403/trump-2024-campaign-team-maga-fringe/|title=Trump Has a 'Solid' 2024 Team But MAGA Fringe Never Far Away|date=November 23, 2022|magazine=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3658054-top-trump-allies-launch-super-pac-to-back-endorsed-candidates/|title=Top Trump allies launch super PAC to back endorsed candidates|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=September 23, 2022|work=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-donald-trump-already-forget-hes-running-for-president|title=Did Donald Trump Already Forget He's Running for President?|first=Jake Lahut,Zachary|last=Petrizzo|date=December 9, 2022|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref>


=== Controversies ===
== References ==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
Cheung appeared in a contentious interview with CNN in June 2018 where critics accused him of politicizing the confirmation process of the United States Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - Transcripts |url=http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1806/28/nday.03.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=www.cnn.com}}</ref>
*{{commons category-inline}}
*{{C-SPAN|140359}}


{{s-start}}
He was involved in a controversial practice in Ultimate Fighting Championship of banning reporters critical of the organization from live events.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Donald Trump has hired a former UFC executive for presidential campaign|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/mma/donald-trump-has-hired-a-former-ufc-executive-for-presidential-campaign-86927|access-date=2022-02-17|website=SportsJOE.ie|language=en}}</ref>
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ben LaBolt]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[White House Communications Director]]|years=Taking office 2025<!-- –present -->}}
{{s-non|reason=Designate}}<!-- {{s-inc}} -->
{{s-end}}


{{WHCD}}
== References ==
<references />


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheung, Steven}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheung, Steven}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:American political consultants]]
[[Category:American politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Asian conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]
[[Category:California State University, Sacramento alumni]]
[[Category:Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign]]
[[Category:Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign]]
[[Category:Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign]]
[[Category:First Trump administration personnel]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign]]
[[Category:People associated with the 2016 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:People associated with the 2020 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:People associated with the 2024 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:People from Sacramento, California]]
[[Category:People from Sacramento, California]]
[[Category:California State University, Sacramento alumni]]
[[Category:Second Trump administration personnel]]
[[Category:Trump administration personnel]]
[[Category:Songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship]]
[[Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship]]
[[Category:Songwriters from California]]
[[Category:White House Communications Directors]]
[[Category:American politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign]]

Latest revision as of 17:51, 8 December 2024

For other people with the same name, see Steven Cheung.

Steven Cheung
White House Communications Director
Designate
Assuming office
January 20, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump (elect)
SucceedingBen LaBolt
Personal details
Born
Huyen Cheung

(1982-06-23) June 23, 1982 (age 42)
Sacramento, California, U.S
Political partyRepublican
EducationCalifornia State University, Sacramento (BA)

Huyen "Steven" Cheung (born June 23, 1982) is an American political advisor serving as President-elect Donald Trump's campaign spokesman in the 2024 United States presidential election.[1][2] He previously worked in Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He also worked in communications for the sports organization Ultimate Fighting Championship based in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3][4]

In November 2024, he was named White House communications director for the incoming Donald Trump administration.[5]

Early life

[edit]

Cheung was born in Sacramento, California, to Chinese parents who had immigrated to the U.S. and was raised in Sacramento.[6][7] He was a high school football player.[8] He attended California State University, Sacramento, majoring in computer science and political science.[6]

Career

[edit]

Political campaigns and UFC

[edit]

As a college student in 2003, Cheung became an intern in then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's communications and speechwriting office in California.[9][10] He moved to Washington, D.C. in 2008 to work on John McCain's presidential campaign.[11][12] Cheung has served on the campaigns of Steve Poizner for California governor, Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate, and Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst for U.S. Senate.[13] In 2013, Cheung transitioned into a career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he worked as "a director of communications for public affairs at the UFC".[14] He was involved in the UFC practice of banning reporters critical of the organization from live events.[15]

Trump 2016 campaign and transition

[edit]

Before then-candidate Donald Trump was nominated as the Republican presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention in 2016, Cheung left his job at the UFC and joined the Trump campaign's communications and press team as Director of Rapid Response.[16][3] His duties included "keeping the campaign up to date on breaking news and pushing back on false or unbalanced reporting" according to a press release.[17]

Cheung was involved[how?] in a statement disavowing support from the Ku Klux Klan and a white supremacist newspaper, who endorsed Trump's campaign. He said, "Mr. Trump and the campaign denounces hate in any form. This publication is repulsive and their views do not represent the tens of millions of Americans who are uniting behind our campaign."[18]

After Trump's victory over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, Cheung was named as an advisor to the presidential transition team.[19][20][21] According to media reports, he was at one point considered for the role of White House Press Secretary.[22] That job ultimately went to Sean Spicer.[23]

Trump White House

[edit]

Cheung was named as Special Assistant to the President and Assistant Communications Director at the White House on January 19, 2017, one day prior to Trump's inauguration.[2] He was part of a team tasked with helping nominate and confirm Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court. Gorsuch was eventually confirmed to the Supreme Court by the United States Senate by a 54–45 vote.[24] Shortly after Gorsuch's confirmation, Cheung assumed a different position at the White House.[25]

On August 16, 2017, Cheung was appointed as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Response.[26] He then worked on the passage of Trump's tax reform bill, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[27] The bill successfully passed Congress and Trump signed it into law on December 22, 2017.[28]

According to the book Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington, Cheung, along with three others, were referred to as "the killers" in the White House by Jared Kushner and Stephen Bannon. They were considered by Bannon to be "innovative and action oriented".[29]

On June 11, 2018, Politico reported Cheung left the White House,[7] amid a contentious period with Chief of Staff John F. Kelly making changes to Trump's White House communications staff. Amid leaks and infighting, Kelly overhauled the communications team, which led to additional departures.[24] It was later revealed that Cheung's annual White House salary was $131,000.[30] Cheung later appeared in a contentious interview with CNN on June 28, 2018, where critics accused him of politicizing the confirmation process of the United States Supreme Court.[31]

Trump 2020 campaign

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Politico reported that President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign retained the services of the firm Solgence, which is owned and operated by Cheung.[32] As part of the 2020 campaign, Cheung worked on putting together the Republican National Convention in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.[33]

After the 2020 US presidential election, in which Trump was defeated by Joe Biden, Cheung was involved in the Trump campaign's efforts to overturn the election. Despite Trump's claims, according to experts, there has been no evidence of election fraud.[34][35][36][37]

Post-Trump presidency

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Cheung was named the spokesman of the Trump 2024 presidential campaign. After Trump was criticized in October 2023 for his statement that undocumented immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country," echoing language of white supremacists and Adolf Hitler, Cheung responded:

That's a normal phrase that is used in everyday life – in books, television, movies, and in news articles. For anyone to think that is racist or xenophobic is living in an alternate reality consumed with non-sensical [sic] outrage.[38]

After Trump was criticized in November 2023 for referring to his political opponents as "vermin", Cheung said:

Those who try to make that ridiculous assertion are clearly snowflakes grasping for anything because they are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome and their sad, miserable existence will be crushed when President Trump returns to the White House.[39]

Cheung was a senior advisor on the 2022 U.S. Senate campaign of former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, who resigned amid allegations of sexual assault and campaign finance impropriety.[40][41]

Axios reported that Cheung joined as senior advisor to reality star Caitlyn Jenner's unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in California during the 2021 recall election.[10]

Cheung also served as an advisor and spokesperson for former congressman Jim Renacci's 2022 campaign for Ohio governor.[42]

Media outlets reported in 2022 that Cheung began advising cryptocurrency entrepreneur and philanthropist Brock Pierce, a former child star linked to Jeffrey Epstein and the DEN collapse & financial & sex scandal.[43][44]

Arlington National Cemetery incident

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On August 27, 2024, an incident occurred at Arlington National Cemetery in which two Trump staffers, Justin Caporale and Michel Picard, shoved a cemetery employee who was trying to stop the Trump team from photographing and video recording a campaign promotion in a heavily restricted area of the cemetery known as Section 60, a burial site that is primarily reserved for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. A federal law prohibits the use of U.S. military facilities, cemeteries in particular, for political campaigns.

Cheung claimed the woman was "suffering from a mental health episode," which military officials said was false. He alleged the cemetery employee "initiated physical contact that was unwarranted and unnecessary" and said the campaign would release video to support its account, which it never did. The cemetery employee filed an incident report with military officials, but declined to press charges, fearing retribution from Trump supporters. Cheung characterized that concern as "ridiculous and sounds like someone who has Trump Derangement Syndrome". The Trump campaign posted a TikTok video of the visit the next day, during which Trump is heard criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.[45][46][47][48][49]

MAGA Inc.

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As of 2023, Cheung was the communications director of Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC.[50][51][52][53][54][55][56]

References

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  1. ^ Vigdor, Neil (June 18, 2023). "In Nevada, DeSantis Sells Republicans on Ending 'Culture of Losing'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces Second Wave of Additional White House Staff". The American Presidency Project (Press release). Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Flood, Brian (July 11, 2016). "Donald Trump Hires UFC Executive as He Gears Up for Fight Against Hillary Clinton". Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  4. ^ Durkee, Alison. "Who Is Steven Cheung? What To Know About Trump's Incoming Communications Director". Forbes. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  5. ^ McGraw, Meridith; Bade, Rachael (November 15, 2024). "Trump to tap campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung as communications director". politico.com.
  6. ^ a b Sokolove, Michael. "How Trump's 2024 campaign became a bloody cage fight". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Meet Donald Trump's 'sumo wrestler' campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung". South China Morning Post. April 26, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  8. ^ Sokolove, Michael. "How Trump's 2024 campaign became a bloody cage fight". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Steven Cheung, senior communications adviser for the Trump reelect". Politico. June 23, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Markay, Lachlan; Treene, Alayna; Swan, Jonathan (April 23, 2021). "Caitlyn Jenner files paperwork to run for governor of California". Axios. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  11. ^ Kanski, Alison (July 11, 2016). "Trump campaign bulks up comms team with Bryan Lanza and Steven Cheung". prweek.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  12. ^ Sokolove, Michael. "How Trump's 2024 campaign became a bloody cage fight". Mother Jones. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "Ted Cruz says David Dewhurst's camp called him a Chinese Communist". Politico. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "Donald Trump Hires UFC Press Agent to Be His New "Rapid Response" Guy". vice.com. July 12, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "Donald Trump has hired a former UFC executive for presidential campaign". SportsJOE.ie. July 12, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  16. ^ "Donald Trump hires former UFC staffer to presidential campaign". For The Win. July 11, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "Trump Campaign Announces Expansion of Communications Team". The American Presidency Project (Press release). Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  18. ^ "Ku Klux Klan newspaper declares support for Trump". Reuters. November 2, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  19. ^ "Trump adds vice chairs to transition team, including several women". Politico. November 29, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  20. ^ "President-Elect Donald J. Trump Announces New Vice Chairs and Executive Committee Members Serving on Presidential Transition Team". The American Presidency Project (Press release). Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  21. ^ Brown, Heath (December 12, 2016). "Focus on communications, not policy, sets Trump transition apart". The Hill. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  22. ^ "White House press briefings could be totally bonkers under Donald Trump". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  23. ^ "Trump names Sean Spicer press secretary, announces other senior members of his press team". CNBC. December 22, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  24. ^ a b Karni, Annie (June 11, 2018). "White House aide Steven Cheung leaves communications staff". Politico. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  25. ^ Estepa, Jessica. "Hope Hicks is officially the White House communications director". USA Today. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  26. ^ "Political power plays". Axios. September 13, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  27. ^ Sanchez, Luis (June 11, 2018). "White House communications aide Steven Cheung leaves position: report". The Hill. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  28. ^ "Here's When the GOP Tax Reform Bill Will Take Effect". Fortune. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  29. ^ Markay, Lachlan; Suebsaeng, Asawin (2020). Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington. Penguin. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-9848-7856-4.
  30. ^ Bindrim, Kira (July 2017). "All of Donald Trump's White House staffers, ranked by salary". Quartz. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  31. ^ "CNN - Transcripts". CNN. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  32. ^ Beavers, David (August 15, 2019). "Former Trump staffers consulting for president's reelect". Politico. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  33. ^ Scherer, Michael (August 28, 2020). "Republicans try to change President Trump's image for skeptical voters". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  34. ^ Corasaniti, Nick; Epstein, Reid J.; Rutenberg, Jim (November 11, 2020). "The Times Called Officials in Every State: No Evidence of Voter Fraud". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  35. ^ Farley, Robert (November 8, 2020). "FactCheck: Trump sticks with bogus voter fraud claim". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  36. ^ Farley, Robert (November 28, 2016). "Trump Sticks With Bogus Voter Fraud Claims". FactCheck.org. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  37. ^ Wolfe, Jan (January 6, 2022). "Factbox: Trump's false claims debunked: the 2020 election and Jan. 6 riot". Reuters. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  38. ^ Sullivan, Kate (October 6, 2023). "Trump's anti-immigrant comments draw rebuke". CNN.
  39. ^ Gold, Michael (November 13, 2023). "After Calling Foes 'Vermin,' Trump Campaign Warns Its Critics Will Be 'Crushed'". The New York Times.
  40. ^ "CNN - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos". lite.cnn.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  41. ^ Treene, Alayna (December 15, 2021). "Trump Republicans eager to dethrone McConnell as GOP leader". Axios. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  42. ^ Ball, Brian (August 18, 2021). "Renacci Asks Ohio Attorney General, Secretary of State to Investigate Sources of DeWine Campaign Cash". The Ohio Star. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  43. ^ Masters, Kim (September 18, 2019). "The Strange Saga of Jeffrey Epstein's Link to a Child Star Turned Cryptocurrency Mogul". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  44. ^ Schreckinger, Ben (April 22, 2022). "Bannon is helping a Vermont crypto bro get elected to the Senate". Politico. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  45. ^ Fowler, Stephen; Bowman, Tom; Lawrence, Quil (September 5, 2024). "Trump deputy campaign manager identified in Arlington National Cemetery dustup". NPR. Retrieved September 21, 2024. The two staffers, according to a source with knowledge of the incident, are deputy campaign manager Justin Caporale and Michel Picard, a member of Trump's advance team.
  46. ^ Bowman, Tom (August 27, 2024). "Trump Campaign Staff had Altercation with Official at Arlington National Cemetery". NPR. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  47. ^ Haberman, Maggie (August 27, 2024). "Trump Team Clashed with Official at Arlington National Cemetery". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  48. ^ Haberman, Maggie (August 28, 2024). "Trump Videos at Grave Dismay Family of Green Beret Buried at Arlington". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  49. ^ Kim, Soo Rin; Walsh, Kelsey; Ibssa, Lalee; Murray, Isabella (August 28, 2024). "Trump posts campaign video of Arlington National Cemetery visit after 'incident'". ABC News. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  50. ^ "Trump eyes longtime Virginia operative for senior 2024 campaign role", The Washington Post.
  51. ^ Dorn, Sara (October 26, 2022). "Trump-Linked Super PAC Spends Millions In These Key Senate Races". Forbes.
  52. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (September 23, 2022). "Trump to unleash millions in the midterms in possible prelude to 2024". Politico.
  53. ^ Gabby Orr, Dan Merica, Fredreka Schouten (September 23, 2022). "Trump allies launch new super PAC to bolster GOP candidates in midterms as former President eyes 2024 campaign". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  54. ^ "Trump Has a 'Solid' 2024 Team But MAGA Fringe Never Far Away". Time. November 23, 2022.
  55. ^ Samuels, Brett (September 23, 2022). "Top Trump allies launch super PAC to back endorsed candidates". The Hill.
  56. ^ Petrizzo, Jake Lahut,Zachary (December 9, 2022). "Did Donald Trump Already Forget He's Running for President?". The Daily Beast.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by White House Communications Director
Taking office 2025 		Designate
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