What do you think?
Rate this book
Hate Monger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda
Stephen Miller is one of the most influential advisors in the White House. He has crafted Donald Trump’s speeches, designed immigration policies that ban Muslims and separate families, and outlasted such Trump stalwarts as Steve Bannon and Jeff Sessions. But he’s remained an enigma.
Until now. Emmy- and PEN-winning investigative journalist and author Jean Guerrero charts the thirty-four-year-old’s astonishing rise to power, drawing from more than one hundred interviews with his family, friends, adversaries and government officials.
Radicalized as a teenager, Miller relished provocation at his high school in liberal Santa Monica, California. He clashed with administrators and antagonized dark-skinned classmates with invectives against bilingualism and multiculturalism. At Duke University, he cloaked racist and classist ideas in the language of patriotism and heritage to get them airtime amid controversies. On Capitol Hill, he served Tea Party congresswoman Michele Bachmann and nativist Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions.
Recruited to Trump’s campaign, Miller met his idol. Having dreamed of Trump’s presidency before he even announced his decision to run, Miller became his senior policy advisor and speechwriter. Together, they stoked dystopian fears about the Democrats, “Deep State” and “American Carnage,” painting migrants and their supporters as an existential threat to America. Through backroom machinations and sheer force of will, Miller survived dozens of resignations and encouraged Trump’s harshest impulses, in conflict with the president’s own family. While Trump railed against illegal immigration, Miller crusaded against legal immigration. He targeted refugees, asylum seekers and their children, engineering an ethical crisis for a nation that once saw itself as the conscience of the world. Miller rallied support for this agenda, even as federal judges tried to stop it, by courting the white rage that found violent expression in tragedies from El Paso to Charlottesville.
Hatemonger unveils the man driving some of the most divisive confrontations over what it means to be American––and what America will become.
Until now. Emmy- and PEN-winning investigative journalist and author Jean Guerrero charts the thirty-four-year-old’s astonishing rise to power, drawing from more than one hundred interviews with his family, friends, adversaries and government officials.
Radicalized as a teenager, Miller relished provocation at his high school in liberal Santa Monica, California. He clashed with administrators and antagonized dark-skinned classmates with invectives against bilingualism and multiculturalism. At Duke University, he cloaked racist and classist ideas in the language of patriotism and heritage to get them airtime amid controversies. On Capitol Hill, he served Tea Party congresswoman Michele Bachmann and nativist Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions.
Recruited to Trump’s campaign, Miller met his idol. Having dreamed of Trump’s presidency before he even announced his decision to run, Miller became his senior policy advisor and speechwriter. Together, they stoked dystopian fears about the Democrats, “Deep State” and “American Carnage,” painting migrants and their supporters as an existential threat to America. Through backroom machinations and sheer force of will, Miller survived dozens of resignations and encouraged Trump’s harshest impulses, in conflict with the president’s own family. While Trump railed against illegal immigration, Miller crusaded against legal immigration. He targeted refugees, asylum seekers and their children, engineering an ethical crisis for a nation that once saw itself as the conscience of the world. Miller rallied support for this agenda, even as federal judges tried to stop it, by courting the white rage that found violent expression in tragedies from El Paso to Charlottesville.
Hatemonger unveils the man driving some of the most divisive confrontations over what it means to be American––and what America will become.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2020
636 people are currently reading
2100 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
July 6, 2024
I have once again decided to embark on a mission to read a number of books on subjects that will be of great importance to the upcoming 2024 US Presidential Election. This was a great success as I prepared for 2020, with an outcome at the polls (and antics by both candidates up to Inauguration Day) that only a fiction writer might have come up with at the time! Many of these will focus on actors and events intricately involved in the US political system over the last few years, in hopes that I can understand them better and, perhaps, educate others with the power to cast a ballot. I am, as always, open to serious recommendations from anyone who has a book I might like to include in the process.
This is Book #4 in my 2024 US Election Preparation Challenge.
Jean Guerrero brings to life one of the most appalling and fear-inducing life stories of a man at Trump’s right hand, advising him on a daily basis. Stephen Miller is not only hate-filled and fueled by rhetoric, but has little regard for others and the needed compassion to work in 21st century Washington. As Guerrero explores and exposes Miller’s life, she uncovers the roots of the xenophobic and radicalised sentiments that helped him write some of the most divisive speeches and policy documents that would spur Donald Trump along during his time as president. Filled with poignant stories and background, Guerrero sheds light on a man who knew no better, yet those ignorance cannot simply be dismissed as a jaded upbringing. Well told and eye-opening at every page turn, Guerrero spins a biography that is dripping with malice and indignant sentiment throughout.
There is no doubt that Stephen Miller is highly influential as a person and a member of Donald Trump’s inner circle while he was in the White House. Award-winning author Jean Guerrero seeks to explore how the man became so aggressive in this piece. Guerrero opens by discussing that Stephen Miller was a typical child whose Jewish upbringing was part of a well-rounded and educated life. However, there was a time when Miller, who spent his youth in California, noticed that racial division was best and that by keeping like people in their respective groups could only serve to better the community. Guerrero explains this in the early chapters of the book, which are sure to shock readers, or perhaps lull them into a sense of expectation.
This radicalised view would seep into Miller’s teen years, where he bluntly rallied against minorities and wanted them kept in their place, a shocking perspective for someone whose ethnic make up resolved around being persecuted for beliefs and simply being. However, this was not something that Miller ever saw, choosing to push for specific and strict views to keep groups at bay and allow his right of centre beliefs to thrive, no matter who opposed them. His daily inculcation by radio hosts helped fuel Miller’s hate of those who were different, something the youth accepted as truth without the need for concrete evidence.
As Guerrero explores Miller’s formative years, the narrative moves to show that he was becoming quite excited by a sectionalised view of America. Fuelled by the attacks of September 11, 2001, Miller felt that Islamic extremists needed to be punished, but that it would not be problematic to generalise Muslims as all being a part this group. Miller also kept pushing his anti-Hispanic views, spewing vitriol that could be explained in no way other than ignorant racism. This was furthered when Miller went to Duke University, where he found a staunch conservative group that helped fuel his views. Miller jumped on anything that would promote the white race and ensure that minorities knew their place. Using the Duke lacrosse team ban of 2006 as a launching point, Miller was able to enter the national scene by espousing the innocence of players and how a black stripper fabricated the rape accusation for notoriety.
Miller caught the eye of right-leaning politicians, as he had a way with words and could get to the heart of the matter. He met Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions and soon joined his team as a speechwriter. Working to push the senator’s ideas, Miller was introduced to others of like-minded views, fomenting division within the country and around the world. Influenced by the likes of Sessions and Steve Bannon, Miller was able to hone his views and fan the flames, permitting others to dump fuel to further the xenophobic destruction.
After an unpredictable 2016 presidential campaign saw Donald Trump win, Miller saw a place for himself to help his newest idol push views through well-written policies to keep immigrants out of the country. Miller eagerly write to keep the Trump base satiated with rhetoric that would promote dividing the county and provide flagrant views pushing the country to the limit. Miller soon emerged as Trump’s senior policy advisor, working with the president to push America to the verge by trying to paint the country as lost and rotting from within.
Miller’s greatest success, according to Guerrero was an encouragement of Trump’s harshest impulses, fueling an immigrant policy that would create an international sense of xenophobia not seen in decades. Miller rallied to support this agenda, even as federal judges sought to dismantle it. Miller lost all sense of reality as the country spoke out against it, espousing that it was needed and that leftist views had bled into the electorate, who needed a reset. Trump agreed, which only helped feed into the racist view that has yet to be silenced. One can only hope when the nightmare will end, something that Jean Guererro fails to deliver. This is highly disturbing, even from this side of the 45th parallel!
While it is alarming to read a book of this nature, I could not stop devouring all that Jean Guerrero had to offer. One must stop and use a filter to determine how much of the biography is truth and what might be exaggeration to fuel a specific sentiment. Guerrero uses her short chapters to push a story about Stephen Miller and show how he went from you guessing boy to a raging xenophobe in a short period. While Guererro is not blunt in saying it, one can surmise that it was the company that Miller kept who bear responsibility for such extreme views. Miller cannot get off scot-free, but one must wonder if he was influenced at his most vulnerable points. Still, as Miller espouses his intelligence, one has to wonder if he is blind to these racist views or simply ignorant. I leave it to the reader to decide for themselves, though Guerrero makes her own case. Dripping with vitriol and xenophobia on most every page, one can only suspect if Trump and Miller might have been destined to come together, being so like-minded. Guerrero does well pairing them, highlighting numerous moments of convergence that would help the president push extreme policies to cripple America on the world scene. Supported with interviews and country documents, the book is by no means a baseless diatribe against the right. With the coming election, one can wonder if Miller will reemerge like a sexual disease and inflame the body politic once again.
Kudos, Madam Guerrero, for sending chills down my spine about some of the horrible sentiments that invade the American political discussion.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
This is Book #4 in my 2024 US Election Preparation Challenge.
Jean Guerrero brings to life one of the most appalling and fear-inducing life stories of a man at Trump’s right hand, advising him on a daily basis. Stephen Miller is not only hate-filled and fueled by rhetoric, but has little regard for others and the needed compassion to work in 21st century Washington. As Guerrero explores and exposes Miller’s life, she uncovers the roots of the xenophobic and radicalised sentiments that helped him write some of the most divisive speeches and policy documents that would spur Donald Trump along during his time as president. Filled with poignant stories and background, Guerrero sheds light on a man who knew no better, yet those ignorance cannot simply be dismissed as a jaded upbringing. Well told and eye-opening at every page turn, Guerrero spins a biography that is dripping with malice and indignant sentiment throughout.
There is no doubt that Stephen Miller is highly influential as a person and a member of Donald Trump’s inner circle while he was in the White House. Award-winning author Jean Guerrero seeks to explore how the man became so aggressive in this piece. Guerrero opens by discussing that Stephen Miller was a typical child whose Jewish upbringing was part of a well-rounded and educated life. However, there was a time when Miller, who spent his youth in California, noticed that racial division was best and that by keeping like people in their respective groups could only serve to better the community. Guerrero explains this in the early chapters of the book, which are sure to shock readers, or perhaps lull them into a sense of expectation.
This radicalised view would seep into Miller’s teen years, where he bluntly rallied against minorities and wanted them kept in their place, a shocking perspective for someone whose ethnic make up resolved around being persecuted for beliefs and simply being. However, this was not something that Miller ever saw, choosing to push for specific and strict views to keep groups at bay and allow his right of centre beliefs to thrive, no matter who opposed them. His daily inculcation by radio hosts helped fuel Miller’s hate of those who were different, something the youth accepted as truth without the need for concrete evidence.
As Guerrero explores Miller’s formative years, the narrative moves to show that he was becoming quite excited by a sectionalised view of America. Fuelled by the attacks of September 11, 2001, Miller felt that Islamic extremists needed to be punished, but that it would not be problematic to generalise Muslims as all being a part this group. Miller also kept pushing his anti-Hispanic views, spewing vitriol that could be explained in no way other than ignorant racism. This was furthered when Miller went to Duke University, where he found a staunch conservative group that helped fuel his views. Miller jumped on anything that would promote the white race and ensure that minorities knew their place. Using the Duke lacrosse team ban of 2006 as a launching point, Miller was able to enter the national scene by espousing the innocence of players and how a black stripper fabricated the rape accusation for notoriety.
Miller caught the eye of right-leaning politicians, as he had a way with words and could get to the heart of the matter. He met Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions and soon joined his team as a speechwriter. Working to push the senator’s ideas, Miller was introduced to others of like-minded views, fomenting division within the country and around the world. Influenced by the likes of Sessions and Steve Bannon, Miller was able to hone his views and fan the flames, permitting others to dump fuel to further the xenophobic destruction.
After an unpredictable 2016 presidential campaign saw Donald Trump win, Miller saw a place for himself to help his newest idol push views through well-written policies to keep immigrants out of the country. Miller eagerly write to keep the Trump base satiated with rhetoric that would promote dividing the county and provide flagrant views pushing the country to the limit. Miller soon emerged as Trump’s senior policy advisor, working with the president to push America to the verge by trying to paint the country as lost and rotting from within.
Miller’s greatest success, according to Guerrero was an encouragement of Trump’s harshest impulses, fueling an immigrant policy that would create an international sense of xenophobia not seen in decades. Miller rallied to support this agenda, even as federal judges sought to dismantle it. Miller lost all sense of reality as the country spoke out against it, espousing that it was needed and that leftist views had bled into the electorate, who needed a reset. Trump agreed, which only helped feed into the racist view that has yet to be silenced. One can only hope when the nightmare will end, something that Jean Guererro fails to deliver. This is highly disturbing, even from this side of the 45th parallel!
While it is alarming to read a book of this nature, I could not stop devouring all that Jean Guerrero had to offer. One must stop and use a filter to determine how much of the biography is truth and what might be exaggeration to fuel a specific sentiment. Guerrero uses her short chapters to push a story about Stephen Miller and show how he went from you guessing boy to a raging xenophobe in a short period. While Guererro is not blunt in saying it, one can surmise that it was the company that Miller kept who bear responsibility for such extreme views. Miller cannot get off scot-free, but one must wonder if he was influenced at his most vulnerable points. Still, as Miller espouses his intelligence, one has to wonder if he is blind to these racist views or simply ignorant. I leave it to the reader to decide for themselves, though Guerrero makes her own case. Dripping with vitriol and xenophobia on most every page, one can only suspect if Trump and Miller might have been destined to come together, being so like-minded. Guerrero does well pairing them, highlighting numerous moments of convergence that would help the president push extreme policies to cripple America on the world scene. Supported with interviews and country documents, the book is by no means a baseless diatribe against the right. With the coming election, one can wonder if Miller will reemerge like a sexual disease and inflame the body politic once again.
Kudos, Madam Guerrero, for sending chills down my spine about some of the horrible sentiments that invade the American political discussion.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 10, 2020
"Every fiction begins with us versus them, with the separation of one from another."
I hated having to read this book. I hate what this admin has done to us and our country. I despise the cast of characters that comprise the inner circle of this President. It would be hard to pick the absolute worst besides Trump, but after reading this book, Stephen Miller is at the top of my list right now.
What an absolute ghoul who has his fingers in every executive order, every horrible presidential speech, and every policy that makes a decent person's blood boil. And Stephen Miller is what happens when crazy conservative talk show hosts find a young man looking for a purpose and then they personally mentor him on the fine art of gaslighting and how to feed on the fears of large groups of people.
This book will be part of the pantheon a decade or two down the road when we ask ourselves, what went wrong?
I hated having to read this book. I hate what this admin has done to us and our country. I despise the cast of characters that comprise the inner circle of this President. It would be hard to pick the absolute worst besides Trump, but after reading this book, Stephen Miller is at the top of my list right now.
What an absolute ghoul who has his fingers in every executive order, every horrible presidential speech, and every policy that makes a decent person's blood boil. And Stephen Miller is what happens when crazy conservative talk show hosts find a young man looking for a purpose and then they personally mentor him on the fine art of gaslighting and how to feed on the fears of large groups of people.
This book will be part of the pantheon a decade or two down the road when we ask ourselves, what went wrong?
August 30, 2020
Spending hours on end with the likes of Stephen Miller, even just with an overview like this, is something one shouldn’t wish on their worst enemy. Still, Hatemonger gives a view of the twisted mind that has held large sway on immigration policy in the US for the past 4 years. It documents his early fascination with right wing radio and also hints at his later sociopathy (with examples such as his aggression toward minorities in high school or dropping his meal tray in college saying that it was the job of the cleaning staff to pick it up). It also discusses his friendship with fellow traveler Richard Spencer, and goes on to show how his involvement with Michelle Bachmann and Jeff Sessions later translated to Trump’s orbit. It is frightening that someone like Miller has held such prominence and lasted for four years in this chaotic administration and the thought of him continuing for another four years is even scarier, yet it’s instructive to understand (as much as one can) his dark worldview and hope that this has been his only brush with influence in government.
August 22, 2020
See our podcast full hour interview at https://bit.ly/342yM4G
The Chris Voss Show Podcast - Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda by Jean Guerrero
Its a thoroughly detailed book explaining the rise of White Nationalism through Stephen Millers childhood and rise to power. With over 150 interviews it is jammed packed with the full story of how Hate rose into the White House.
Great Interview on her hot new book biography of Stephen Miller - this is a MUST READ to understand how Trump and Miller are poisoning America with racism -
Order on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kMlcIs
DO YOU LOVE BOOKS & AUTHORS - CHECK OUT OUR NEW BOOK CLUB http://bit.ly/ChrisVossBookClub
Subscribe to our 9 podcasts at TheCVPN.com
The Chris Voss Show Podcast - Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda by Jean Guerrero
Its a thoroughly detailed book explaining the rise of White Nationalism through Stephen Millers childhood and rise to power. With over 150 interviews it is jammed packed with the full story of how Hate rose into the White House.
Great Interview on her hot new book biography of Stephen Miller - this is a MUST READ to understand how Trump and Miller are poisoning America with racism -
Order on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3kMlcIs
DO YOU LOVE BOOKS & AUTHORS - CHECK OUT OUR NEW BOOK CLUB http://bit.ly/ChrisVossBookClub
Subscribe to our 9 podcasts at TheCVPN.com
September 19, 2020
My low rating does not indicate a problem with the author’s negative depiction of Miller. The man seems psychotic in his joyful evil. And no explanation seems offered to explain whatever the hell damaged him so deeply.
My issue is the abysmal writing. There were some sentences in here that I couldn’t understand, so bad was the syntax. I’ve heard various explanations when I’ve discussed this - poor editing, lack of a background in book writing, and a rush to publish before the 2020 election. There’s certainly a deluge of books right now illuminating difference aspects of Trump’s turd pile. But is it too much to ask that they be articulate?
My issue is the abysmal writing. There were some sentences in here that I couldn’t understand, so bad was the syntax. I’ve heard various explanations when I’ve discussed this - poor editing, lack of a background in book writing, and a rush to publish before the 2020 election. There’s certainly a deluge of books right now illuminating difference aspects of Trump’s turd pile. But is it too much to ask that they be articulate?
December 17, 2020
I knew both of his grandparents. I know his former rabbi. My children attend the same high school, and had the same music teacher as he did. One of my children is a percussionist like he was. I am Jewish and live in Santa Monica, so I take what he does and who he is personally. This book was deeply disturbing to me because I still, after finishing the book, cannot understand how someone from here, with such a lovely family, could end up like he is.
November 9, 2020
I always finish books once I start them, but truthfully I only finished half of this one. It is well researched, but I couldn’t force myself to read it the last few weeks. And now that election results are in, who cares about Stephen Miller anymore. Time for something more hopeful!
June 27, 2025
A Serbian Film has more likeable characters.
September 27, 2020
Without a doubt one of the most disturbing books I've read about the Trump Administration. Not that I didn't already know that Stephen Miller is dangerous. Still, I learned more about his history and his deep relationships with high-profile white supremacists. That a Jewish boy from Southern California would become aligned with racists and anti-Semites, effectively becoming Trump's Goebbels, is beyond disturbing. Guerrero's book is well researched and well written. I recommend you read it before the November 3, 2020, election, before Trump and Miller and the rest of them are relegated to the dustbin of history.
December 26, 2020
An exceptional and well researched book, sadly Stephen Miller, a senior advisor, played into Donald Trump’s worse demons.
Miller by all accounts is a racist. The author investigates and reports Miller’s life story, and his long track with White Racism. His nativist activism from high school all the way to the White House is chilling.
His persona and politics is perplexing at the extreme.
He comes from a family that barely escaped the Russian Pogroms of the beginning of the 1900’s.
Part of his extended family perished in German death camps forty years later.
His animus to black and brown people is inexplicable, and his emotional and simpatico connection to Trump is breathtaking.
Miller by all accounts is a racist. The author investigates and reports Miller’s life story, and his long track with White Racism. His nativist activism from high school all the way to the White House is chilling.
His persona and politics is perplexing at the extreme.
He comes from a family that barely escaped the Russian Pogroms of the beginning of the 1900’s.
Part of his extended family perished in German death camps forty years later.
His animus to black and brown people is inexplicable, and his emotional and simpatico connection to Trump is breathtaking.
January 16, 2025
Unfortunately, this is poorly written.
However, it has laid out a good timeline of Miller’s career for those interested.
However, it has laid out a good timeline of Miller’s career for those interested.
October 9, 2025
F*ck you, Stephen Miller, you racist power-mad authoritarian freak. One of the most horrifying revelations in this book is that teenage Miller's music of choice was Sinatra.
June 30, 2025
Steven Miller is an asshole
October 1, 2020
I heard Ms. Guerrero on the NPR show Fresh Air and was attracted to learn more about the tactics of hatemonger Stephen Miller in the Trump administration. The Prologue opens with Mr. Miller grinning at the sea of red baseball "Make America Great Again" caps at San Diego in May 2016. It is impossilbe to understand the Trump era, with its unparalleled polarization, without tracing Miller's journey to the White House. He was the architect of Trumps border/immigration policy, including the separation of families in 2017 and Muslim bans of 2018. Both are masters of messaging, "like sorcerers who lost control of their spells, they denied any role in the rising tide of white rage." Miller was a product of priviledged Santa Monica upbringing, Born the second of three children in the Jewish family of Michael D. Miller, a real estate investor, and Miriam, Stephen began appearing on talk radio while at Santa Monica high. Students remembered him as ignoring trash in the cafeteria, saying that "there are people whose job it is" to pick up his trash. He became an admiror of Rush Limbaugh and David Horowitz. He was active in high school opposing Spanish language use. He gained national attention for his defense of the students who were wrongly accused of rape in the Duke lacrosse case, and described Mecha, a hispanic support group, as one that believed in racial superiority. He then worked as press secretary for Michele Bachmann (tea party). Two years later he worked for Sessions. Alabama senator Sessions was attacking an immigration reform bill by a bipartisan team, the Gang of 8, during the Obama administration in 2013. And then he joined the Trump team, writing the speech given at the Republican convention.
What is ironic is that the family history was one of immigration. His mother's ancestors—Wolf Lieb Glotzer and his wife, Bessie—immigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire's Antopol, in what is present-day Belarus, arriving in New York on January 7, 1903. They were escaping the anti-Jewish pogrom. His opposition of legal immigration seems to ignore his past.
We need to understand monsters in order to prevent future mistakes of history, such as the immigration disaster of the Trump administration.
What is ironic is that the family history was one of immigration. His mother's ancestors—Wolf Lieb Glotzer and his wife, Bessie—immigrated to the United States from the Russian Empire's Antopol, in what is present-day Belarus, arriving in New York on January 7, 1903. They were escaping the anti-Jewish pogrom. His opposition of legal immigration seems to ignore his past.
We need to understand monsters in order to prevent future mistakes of history, such as the immigration disaster of the Trump administration.
September 10, 2020
Put on your big boy pants before you start this book. We have watched Stephen Miller and Donald Trump and the White Nationalist folks for years. This reporter puts it all together for us. She has pages and pages of notes, giving us citations about where she got her information. Obviously, she quoted the media but she interviewed Miller's family members, people he hung around with in high school, etc. She gives us the horrid details of a little nazi boy in high school, eager to get on talk radio, and tell the world how awful those immigrant Mexicans were. Miller is very smart, much smarter than his boss, D. Trump, and that was obvious since he was a young boy spouting this hate stuff. Miller had a tough time growing up; his father was in litigation with his former law partners, they sold the big home and moved down to a smaller place, his mother went into real estate business with her husband and there were many complaints (like the President's son-in-law?). No classmate talked to the award-winning investigative author about the love and generosity that came from his family. Miller was a loner in high school and college and finally found his idol, Trump. Trump loves him. He can create horrible rules for immigrants and awful rules for keeping Muslim folks out of our country. Most of his relatives have disowned him. His grandmother wrote out the family history of terror and abuse toward Jews so the family would remember. Stephen never read it. This is a valuable book, full of documented facts and well written. But it is very painful to read.
September 20, 2020
I’ve always been fascinated by Stephen Miller and his ability to exert so much power. Author did a great job tracing his family roots and discussing Miller’s early influences. I would have liked to see more of the relationship between Miller and Kushner/Ivanka. The latter strike me as reasonable and not racist as Miller clearly is. And I would think that Kushner and Ivanka have a lot more sway over Trump than Miller does. So I’m surprised Kushner hasn’t been able to curtail Miller’s influence at all. Overall, fascinating read about the man behind the curtain who we see so little of.
September 3, 2020
My heart can only tolerate these investigative journalism books on the current administration between other reads. This well-documented book delves into the life of Stephen Miller. He is truly a right-wing monster, which is ironic considering his very Jewish upbringing. He certainly adheres to none of the tenets of Judaism. I personally feel he’s the brains behind most of Trump’s more heinous actions and speeches.
August 20, 2020
Well, that was disturbing.
October 31, 2020
A stunning and scary read. 150 interviews make this book a good depiction of the hate filled immigration policy of the Trump administration.
August 15, 2023
I made it through this audiobook relatively quickly, but it was a fairly chaotic experience. Very disorganized in the way it is put together, jumping all over the place in its timeline, it's a book I would probably recommend to read in its physical form to keep looking at the names within. Diligently reported, but heavy on commentary and personal perspective, I came away with a mixed view of the book but respect for the presentation of the well-researched facts and massive amounts of interviews that lay within.
One of my biggest issues with the book is that Miller is an awful person and the facts speak for themselves on that, yet the author resorts to repeatedly defending Islamic jihad and radical groups in order to argue against Miller on every front. The perspective of the author, despite her being a respected and well-researched investigative journalist, is so partisan and liberal that its bias detracts from its central biographical focus. It even alleges that the mainstream media whitewashed and was biased toward Trump at the start of his tenure, which is counter to many of our memories.
The second book I've finished on the day of Trump's Georgia indictments, it serves as a strong reminder of exactly how dangerous Trump's core circle was — and how much worse they could be if they come back. Though the book has many flaws, in my opinion, it is still a thorough biography of a man who is sadly important in history. If you like politics and find yourself hate-reading book after book about the MAGA movement, like me, you'll probably enjoy this hybrid biography-commentary piece.
One of my biggest issues with the book is that Miller is an awful person and the facts speak for themselves on that, yet the author resorts to repeatedly defending Islamic jihad and radical groups in order to argue against Miller on every front. The perspective of the author, despite her being a respected and well-researched investigative journalist, is so partisan and liberal that its bias detracts from its central biographical focus. It even alleges that the mainstream media whitewashed and was biased toward Trump at the start of his tenure, which is counter to many of our memories.
The second book I've finished on the day of Trump's Georgia indictments, it serves as a strong reminder of exactly how dangerous Trump's core circle was — and how much worse they could be if they come back. Though the book has many flaws, in my opinion, it is still a thorough biography of a man who is sadly important in history. If you like politics and find yourself hate-reading book after book about the MAGA movement, like me, you'll probably enjoy this hybrid biography-commentary piece.
October 23, 2025
This biography does a few things well: it takes a multigenerational look at the origins, and has many examples of the faceless people affected by the protagonists actions. At times it is a little confusingly worded and there are sections of detail that don’t advance much of my understanding.
One thing that stood out to me was the strength of the influence parents have on their kids. Stephen Miller takes after his dad, a raffish jokester turned real estate guy who got himself into pretty serious trouble, and in another example Ben Horowitz of a16z fame is connected to the story by his father David, who was a mentor to Miller. The often-mentioned anecdote of his trash dropping for the janitor to pick up is a sadly widespread attitude among kids even at my school, but why did Miller take it so far beyond that? One learns that he effectively waited in the wings for a Trump figure to rise up, coming in via Jeff Sessions and the multiple other crazies who have been bashing against a normal society for so long that every effort they make serves to degrade it further.
Obviously, hellish to read in Trump II where each and every idea of Miller’s has been continued to unimaginable lengths with no end in sight.
One thing that stood out to me was the strength of the influence parents have on their kids. Stephen Miller takes after his dad, a raffish jokester turned real estate guy who got himself into pretty serious trouble, and in another example Ben Horowitz of a16z fame is connected to the story by his father David, who was a mentor to Miller. The often-mentioned anecdote of his trash dropping for the janitor to pick up is a sadly widespread attitude among kids even at my school, but why did Miller take it so far beyond that? One learns that he effectively waited in the wings for a Trump figure to rise up, coming in via Jeff Sessions and the multiple other crazies who have been bashing against a normal society for so long that every effort they make serves to degrade it further.
Obviously, hellish to read in Trump II where each and every idea of Miller’s has been continued to unimaginable lengths with no end in sight.
Read
November 7, 2025SUPER YIKES
August 11, 2020
Not Defined
Not only does Miller act like Eichmann but looks like him.
This book fails to define Miller. What makes him pursue evil?
He's Jewish, he should be driven to protect the defenseless
Not only does Miller act like Eichmann but looks like him.
This book fails to define Miller. What makes him pursue evil?
He's Jewish, he should be driven to protect the defenseless
July 21, 2025
This is an origin story of a villain.
This is Episode 1 of a terrible trilogy.
I’m not sorry that I can’t be objective.
I'm putting my full review on Substack so I don't get kicked off here.
This is Episode 1 of a terrible trilogy.
I’m not sorry that I can’t be objective.
I'm putting my full review on Substack so I don't get kicked off here.
Read
October 5, 2020Last night I finished Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda. I think Miller is a disturbing figure -- one among many in the Trump administration, but an important one to learn about. I felt that this book would be important to read as part of Hispanic Heritage month because the Trump administration's immigration policy is having a huge influence on LatinX people across the United States.
However, compared to other presidential advisors in the past such as Barack Obama's Valerie Jarret, or Franklin D. Roosevelt's Harry Hopkins, it is hard to see what positive results Miller's hard work, and he has worked hard, have resulted in.
From Guerrero's book I learned about Miller's upbringing in Santa Monica, California. He became fond of drawing attention to himself by doing and saying outrageous things. His early mentors included Rush Limbaugh, Larry Elder, David Horowitz, and Robert DeNiro's Sam "Ace" Rothstein in the movie Casino.
In high school, Miller had framed posters from the Martin Scorsese movies Goodfellas and Casino in his bedroom. (Guerrero notes that teenage boys at that time would have been far more likely to have posters of girls in bikinis or rock stars instead.) Miller seems to base his wardrode and gestures on DeNiro's Rothstein character. One student who attended Duke University with Miller mistakenly referred to Miller's gesture as Miller channeling Monty Burns. However, Miller apparently failed to recognize that the movie was a tragedy about greed and that everyone in the movie died or suffered terribly by the end of the movie.
Despite the fact that I learned a lot by reading Guerrero's book, I think it has flaws. The book feels rushed and, at least in my opinion, should have been thirty or forty pages shorter. The author spent way too much time describing Miller's grandparents and other relatives. At times, Guerrero will just state something without providing any evidence. For instance, on page 183 she refers to "right-wing senator Chuck Grassley" without saying a word about his voting record, public statements, or any other evidence that would show that Grassley is more right of center than any other Republican member of congress.
The author also sometimes provides details that seem pointless, but provides evidence of those details. On page 268, we learn that Miller attended a meeting with Guatemalan leaders and that "Miller dressed colorfully, with a bright navy blue suit and a banana-yellow tie covered in blue polka dots." I am not quite sure why it was important to know what colors Miller was wearing for this meeting, but Guerrero provides these details and has a footnote so that one can verify this information by comparing it with a photograph from the event.
In the book, we learn that Miller fell in love with and married Katie Waldman. Presumably, Waldman (now Miller) shares Miller's views about the dangers of immigrants from the global south coming to this country. And we learn that both are Jewish. But there is not much more detail provided in the book about her. Waldman is now press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence. Does Pence share the views of Miller and Waldman? I do not know the answer to this question and it is not answered in Guerrero's book.
Overall I liked Hatemonger, but I think the book was rushed and could have been better written. Last year I read Andrew Marantz's book Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation. It is not really about Stephen Miller, but it is a much better written book about the alr-right and their presence online which I do recommend.
However, compared to other presidential advisors in the past such as Barack Obama's Valerie Jarret, or Franklin D. Roosevelt's Harry Hopkins, it is hard to see what positive results Miller's hard work, and he has worked hard, have resulted in.
From Guerrero's book I learned about Miller's upbringing in Santa Monica, California. He became fond of drawing attention to himself by doing and saying outrageous things. His early mentors included Rush Limbaugh, Larry Elder, David Horowitz, and Robert DeNiro's Sam "Ace" Rothstein in the movie Casino.
In high school, Miller had framed posters from the Martin Scorsese movies Goodfellas and Casino in his bedroom. (Guerrero notes that teenage boys at that time would have been far more likely to have posters of girls in bikinis or rock stars instead.) Miller seems to base his wardrode and gestures on DeNiro's Rothstein character. One student who attended Duke University with Miller mistakenly referred to Miller's gesture as Miller channeling Monty Burns. However, Miller apparently failed to recognize that the movie was a tragedy about greed and that everyone in the movie died or suffered terribly by the end of the movie.
Despite the fact that I learned a lot by reading Guerrero's book, I think it has flaws. The book feels rushed and, at least in my opinion, should have been thirty or forty pages shorter. The author spent way too much time describing Miller's grandparents and other relatives. At times, Guerrero will just state something without providing any evidence. For instance, on page 183 she refers to "right-wing senator Chuck Grassley" without saying a word about his voting record, public statements, or any other evidence that would show that Grassley is more right of center than any other Republican member of congress.
The author also sometimes provides details that seem pointless, but provides evidence of those details. On page 268, we learn that Miller attended a meeting with Guatemalan leaders and that "Miller dressed colorfully, with a bright navy blue suit and a banana-yellow tie covered in blue polka dots." I am not quite sure why it was important to know what colors Miller was wearing for this meeting, but Guerrero provides these details and has a footnote so that one can verify this information by comparing it with a photograph from the event.
In the book, we learn that Miller fell in love with and married Katie Waldman. Presumably, Waldman (now Miller) shares Miller's views about the dangers of immigrants from the global south coming to this country. And we learn that both are Jewish. But there is not much more detail provided in the book about her. Waldman is now press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence. Does Pence share the views of Miller and Waldman? I do not know the answer to this question and it is not answered in Guerrero's book.
Overall I liked Hatemonger, but I think the book was rushed and could have been better written. Last year I read Andrew Marantz's book Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation. It is not really about Stephen Miller, but it is a much better written book about the alr-right and their presence online which I do recommend.
December 28, 2020
Difficult to keep reading about hate, prejudice and persecution of Mexicans and others who are looking for a better life. The main character of in this honest look at Trump’s immigration policy is Steven Miller, a Trump appointed enforcer of his White Supremacy policy which is being upheld by the Officials in Homeland Security. The first section is a biographical sketch of Miller and what made him hate Mexicans and Latinos. We learn about his development as a speech and policy writer and his relationship with Steve Bannon and the far-right members of the Republican Party.
The most frightening chapters involve the power given to him by the Trump White House from the first Muslim Ban to Separation of children and parents at the Mexican border. Important information about America’s Corruption and Murderous immigration policy.
The most frightening chapters involve the power given to him by the Trump White House from the first Muslim Ban to Separation of children and parents at the Mexican border. Important information about America’s Corruption and Murderous immigration policy.
December 22, 2020
Have enjoyed Jean Guerrero's reporting over the years and her memoir Crux. She does a good job of chronicling Stephen Miller's rise to power and explaining what makes him tick. I have read other articles about him in The Atlantic and other media, but she further connects the dots not only on Miller, but the broader white nationalist movement and its influence on Trump and his White House. A sobering and at times disturbing read.
December 13, 2020
I think this is a tremendous book, but it clearly didn't get the revisions or editing it would have gotten if the book didn't need to be released before the election.
Some books about Trump passed their sell-by date within months of being written, many more expired on election day, but I think there was legitimate cause to put this out before then. The case it lays out is a nightmare.
Personally, I couldn't bring myself to even think about this book until after Trump lost. But for some other readers and the media, I think it does a great job in connecting dots and filling in blanks, like a chilling connect-the-dots colored in with tears.
So as unlikely as it is, I hope this book gets revised and released again. I'll probably bump the rating up eventually to a 5, anyway, so maybe a sequel is a better idea.
Some books about Trump passed their sell-by date within months of being written, many more expired on election day, but I think there was legitimate cause to put this out before then. The case it lays out is a nightmare.
Personally, I couldn't bring myself to even think about this book until after Trump lost. But for some other readers and the media, I think it does a great job in connecting dots and filling in blanks, like a chilling connect-the-dots colored in with tears.
So as unlikely as it is, I hope this book gets revised and released again. I'll probably bump the rating up eventually to a 5, anyway, so maybe a sequel is a better idea.
September 3, 2020
Fascinating and Infuriating
This could be the inspiring story of a guy who's always wanted to work in public service, make the world a better place, and worked his tail off to make it happen, all before his 40th birthday. Instead, it's the story of Stephen Miller, a white nationalist whose goal in life is to stop the immigration of people of color to the US and make everyone who doesn't share his goal miserable in the process.
This books demonstrates it's not what you know but who you know, as Miller has made it a point to cultivate relationships with like-minded people since he was in high school. Unlike the average teenage boy who may have dreams of becoming a famous athlete or the next tech bazillionaire, Miller actually reaches out to white supremacists who have any type of public image and becomes their mentee. Those relationships earn him references for positions with government officials who share his goals, until he finally ends up in the Trump administration. The drive and determination would be amazing if only he had better intentions.
This could be the inspiring story of a guy who's always wanted to work in public service, make the world a better place, and worked his tail off to make it happen, all before his 40th birthday. Instead, it's the story of Stephen Miller, a white nationalist whose goal in life is to stop the immigration of people of color to the US and make everyone who doesn't share his goal miserable in the process.
This books demonstrates it's not what you know but who you know, as Miller has made it a point to cultivate relationships with like-minded people since he was in high school. Unlike the average teenage boy who may have dreams of becoming a famous athlete or the next tech bazillionaire, Miller actually reaches out to white supremacists who have any type of public image and becomes their mentee. Those relationships earn him references for positions with government officials who share his goals, until he finally ends up in the Trump administration. The drive and determination would be amazing if only he had better intentions.
September 6, 2020
Ugh, hard to get through because it’s painful to read about such a horrible person steadily gaining in influence. Also not as tightly written as I would like. Early on there were two consecutive sentences that basically said:
1. The population of Johnstown boomed during the world wars.
2. The population soared from X to Y between 1880 and 1910.
Such a blatant nonsequitur got my attention for the wrong reasons and shook my confidence in the precision and accuracy of the author. There were a few other sloppy places that bothered me similarly.
In general I appreciate that someone took the time to meticulously document the career of someone as disastrously important as Stephen Miller. Such a book should be a good rebuttal to some of my friends who say “Yes Trump is a horrible person, but some of his policies are good.” If you vote for a horrible leader you’re going to get a horrible administration and horrible outcomes.
1. The population of Johnstown boomed during the world wars.
2. The population soared from X to Y between 1880 and 1910.
Such a blatant nonsequitur got my attention for the wrong reasons and shook my confidence in the precision and accuracy of the author. There were a few other sloppy places that bothered me similarly.
In general I appreciate that someone took the time to meticulously document the career of someone as disastrously important as Stephen Miller. Such a book should be a good rebuttal to some of my friends who say “Yes Trump is a horrible person, but some of his policies are good.” If you vote for a horrible leader you’re going to get a horrible administration and horrible outcomes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews