Alex Pfeiffer, President Donald Trump’s principal deputy communications director, has left the White House administration after serving nine months in the position, departing in early September to join a prominent public affairs firm.
The 29-year-old communications official joined Watchtower Strategy as a managing director specializing in strategy and crisis communications. Arthur Schwartz, a partner at the firm, indicated that Pfeiffer represents one of the most effective communicators in the Republican Party, and the firm expressed enthusiasm about sharing his talents with their clients.
Pfeiffer’s departure marks him as one of the most senior officials to leave the Trump administration during its second term. His exit follows what has been characterized as relatively low turnover compared to Trump’s first presidency, when approximately 35 percent of top aides left their positions.
The communications director’s career path to the White House began in right-wing media. He initially worked at Tucker Carlson’s The Daily Caller starting in 2016, before transitioning to Fox News where he served as an investigative and editorial producer for “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” His role at Fox expanded in January 2021 to include oversight of Carlson’s Fox Nation programming.
Pfeiffer left Fox News in June 2022 to establish his own communications firm before joining the MAGA Inc. super PAC three months later. He worked alongside Trump stalwarts including Chris LaCivita, Steven Cheung, and Tony Fabrizio, with the former two later taking senior roles in Trump’s campaign operation.
During the 2024 campaign cycle, Pfeiffer served as a communications advisor for the Trump-Vance campaign and held the position of communications director for MAGA Inc. In August 2024, he was among several former Trump aides brought onto the campaign as senior advisors, joining Corey Lewandowski, Tim Murtaugh, Taylor Budowich, and Alex Bruesewitz.
Trump announced Pfeiffer’s White House appointment on January 24, 2025, as part of a comprehensive staffing announcement for the offices of Communications, Public Liaison, and Cabinet Affairs. He joined the administration on Inauguration Day after working with the campaign in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The departure comes during a period when Trump’s communications team has faced scrutiny following various controversies. Previously disclosed private messages from Pfeiffer during his Fox News tenure revealed his critical views of Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol incident, where he blamed the then-president for events that day and criticized election fraud claims.
In those communications with Carlson, Pfeiffer had expressed frustration with conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election, describing Sidney Powell as promoting false claims and characterizing negotiations with election denial supporters as particularly challenging. He specifically criticized Trump’s promotion of the January 6 rally and his refusal to disavow certain movements.
Despite these previously critical positions, Pfeiffer aligned himself with Trump’s political operation in 2022. His work with MAGA Inc. included helping raise tens of millions of dollars from major Republican donors and participating in high-profile advertising campaigns, including attacks on President Joe Biden’s age that aired before the State of the Union address.
Watchtower Strategy, founded in January 2025, positions itself as a public affairs firm designed to help corporate leadership navigate government relations. The firm maintains connections throughout Trump World, Capitol Hill leadership, and Fortune 100 companies. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy serves as the firm’s chairman, while Dan Conston holds the CEO position.
Additional partners at Watchtower include Jeff Miller, Cliff Sims, and Brian O. Walsh, alongside Schwartz. The firm’s client base focuses on crisis communications and strategic government affairs for major corporations seeking to navigate the current political landscape.
Pfeiffer’s transition from the White House to private sector consulting follows a pattern established by numerous former Trump administration officials who have leveraged their government experience into lucrative positions with firms serving corporate clients seeking access to Republican political networks.
