Alex Pfeiffer, one of President Donald Trump’s top communications staffers, has quietly departed the White House after less than nine months in his role as principal deputy communications director, becoming one of the most senior officials to leave the administration during Trump’s second term.
The 29-year-old communications veteran left his White House position in early September 2025 to join Watchtower Strategy, a rising public affairs firm, as a managing director specializing in strategy and crisis communications. His departure marks a significant loss for Trump’s communications team, which had experienced relatively low turnover compared to the president’s chaotic first term.
Pfeiffer’s journey to the White House began in 2022 when he joined the MAGA Inc. super PAC as communications director. He transitioned to the Trump-Vance 2024 campaign in August 2024, working from the campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, before moving into his White House role on Inauguration Day in January 2025.
Trump officially announced Pfeiffer’s White House appointment on January 24, 2025, alongside a slate of other communications staffers. The president’s announcement highlighted Pfeiffer’s previous service as a communications adviser for the Trump-Vance 2024 Campaign and his role as communications director for MAGA Inc.
Before joining Trump’s political operation, Pfeiffer built his career in conservative media. He previously worked as an investigative and editorial producer for Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and earlier served as a reporter at Carlson’s The Daily Caller starting in 2016. His media background provided him with the communications expertise that made him valuable to Trump’s team.
Arthur Schwartz, a partner at Watchtower Strategy, expressed enthusiasm about the hire, stating that Pfeiffer is “one of the most effective communicators in the Republican Party, and we’re thrilled to share his talents with our clients.”
Watchtower Strategy, formed in January 2025, positions itself as a firm helping corporate executives navigate government relations. The company boasts deep connections throughout Trump World, Capitol Hill leadership, and Fortune 100 companies. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy serves as the company’s chairman, while Dan Conston holds the CEO position. Other partners include Jeff Miller, Cliff Sims, and Brian O. Walsh.
Pfeiffer’s departure comes during a period of relative stability for Trump’s second-term administration. According to the Brookings Institution, Trump’s second term has experienced significantly less turnover than his first presidency, when approximately 35 percent of top aides departed. The current administration has maintained most of its senior staff, making Pfeiffer’s exit more notable.
However, Pfeiffer’s tenure with Trump’s political operation has not been without controversy. Private messages revealed during Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against Fox News showed that while working at Fox News, Pfeiffer had privately criticized Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack and described the former president’s supporters in derogatory terms.
In messages to Tucker Carlson during the January 6 broadcast, Pfeiffer blamed Trump for the day’s events, noting that millions believed the election was stolen because Trump told them it was. He criticized Trump’s promotion of the rally and his refusal to disavow the QAnon movement. Despite these private reservations, Pfeiffer continued working in conservative media and eventually joined Trump’s political operation.
Pfeiffer’s career trajectory reflects the broader dynamics within conservative media and Republican politics. After expressing private doubts about Trump’s conduct, he was promoted at Fox News in January 2021 and remained with the network for more than a year before launching his own communications firm in June 2022. He joined MAGA Inc. three months later, aligning himself with Trump stalwarts including Chris LaCivita and Steven Cheung.
The timing of Pfeiffer’s departure coincides with Trump’s efforts to stabilize his administration and maintain experienced communications professionals. Trump had previously announced Steven Cheung as communications director and Karoline Leavitt as press secretary, building a team of seasoned political operatives to manage his messaging strategy.
With his move to Watchtower Strategy, Pfeiffer joins the growing number of former Trump administration officials transitioning to the private sector while maintaining connections to Republican political networks. His new role allows him to leverage his White House experience and media background to assist corporate clients navigating the political landscape.
