- Pritzker Fellows
- Current Fellows
- Harrison Fields
Harrison Fields
Former White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Biography
Harrison Fields is Senior Vice President at The CGCN Group, a premier Republican strategic communications and public affairs firm, where he leverages deep governmental experience and extensive networks to advise clients on high-stakes policy, advocacy, and messaging challenges. He has built a distinguished career at the highest levels of state and federal government, amassing over a decade of expertise in political communications and strategic messaging.
Most recently, he served as Principal Deputy Press Secretary and Special Assistant to the President in the Trump Administration, operating in the West Wing as one of the President’s most senior communicators. In this role, he collaborated directly with cabinet secretaries and senior administration officials to develop and execute messaging strategies for landmark legislation, executive orders, and transformative administration policies.
During the Trump-Vance presidential campaign and transition, Harrison held pivotal roles as a Sherpa and national surrogate, delivering the campaign’s message through national and local media outlets while contributing to the seamless establishment of the incoming administration. In President Trump’s first administration, he served as a White House spokesperson, presidential writer, and Assistant Press Secretary, playing a key role in articulating and advancing the President’s agenda through precise, impactful communications.
On Capitol Hill, Harrison held senior positions as Communications Director and Senior Advisor to Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL), while also guiding the Congressman’s campaign communications. Earlier, he served as a communications aide to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Throughout his career, Harrison has been repeatedly entrusted with navigating the nation’s most complex and high-profile political issues. He has provided counsel to principal leaders during crises, legislative fights, and major policy initiatives, earning wide recognition for his strategic acumen, media expertise, crisis management skills, and unflappable execution under pressure. His proven ability to forge compelling narratives, foresee challenges, and deliver trusted advice at the uppermost echelons of power establishes him as one of Washington’s most accomplished and insightful communicators.
Harrison lives in Northern Virginia and is married with a daughter.
Seminars
"The Unapologetic Anomaly: Voice of a Growing MAGA Constituency"
Let’s dive into a no-holds-barred lesson from the trenches of America's fiercest media battles. Having witnessed - and helped drive - the pendulum swings in our nation, from the backlash against establishment politics to the triumphant return of MAGA energy in Washington, D.C., Harrison Fields will share his perspective of someone from the West Wing as a senior spokesman for President Trump. As a direct voice of the President of the United States, he shaped communications during some of the most intense political storms in modern history.
Here's the unvarnished playbook: mastering rapid-response under siege, dismantling loaded questions in real time, forging authentic connections across racial and ideological lines, weaponizing facts against narrative dominance and turning conservative ideas into unstoppable momentum - especially as the political tide turns once again toward the principles that fueled the MAGA resurgence. Expect straight talk on what actually works when the mainstream press is gunning for you - no sanitized theory, just proven tactics from high-stakes wins and brutal confrontations in the heart of power. If you're serious about winning the information war instead of just complaining about it, this is your weekly tactical briefing.
Seminars are off the record and open to current UChicago students only.
Let's start with the basics: What is the new Republican coalition? It's not your traditional country club Republicans anymore. Think of it as a populist powerhouse blending blue-collar workers, small business owners, minorities disillusioned with the Democrats and even some former liberals fed up with woke culture.
The Shift from Elites to Everyday Americans: Back in the day, the GOP was all about tax cuts for the rich and free trade deals that shipped jobs overseas. Enter Donald Trump in 2016 - he flipped the script. Suddenly, it's "America First": Tariffs to protect jobs, border security for working families and calling out the swamp. Result? We saw massive gains among non-college-educated voters. In 2024, Trump won over 50% of the Hispanic vote in key states - that's not a fluke; it's a realignment.
As Senior Advisor and Communications Director to Congressman Byron Donalds, Communications Aide to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and finally the White House, I've engineered messages that pierce hostile coverage, rally unlikely allies and force accountability from outlets determined to spin the story.
Forget the media narrative that Republicans are "anti-diversity." This coalition is diverse as hell. Find out why African American men under 40 greatly increased their support of Republicans since 2020 and more.
The new Republican coalition is held together by three core pillars: economic populism, cultural resistance and the unique role of Donald Trump as its catalyst and communicator. These elements have transformed the GOP from an establishment-oriented party into a broad-based movement.
Out: Traditional Republican emphasis on broad corporate tax cuts and deregulation. In: Federal income taxes on tips for service workers, exempting overtime pay from federal income taxes, providing additional tax deductions for seniors to ease the burden on Social Security benefits, initiatives to improve housing affordability by addressing rising costs and calls for capping credit card interest rates - all designed to bring cost-of-living relief.
Our coalition opposes what many perceive as excessive identity politics, corporate censorship and progressive cultural mandates and communications that prioritize authenticity and directness over the polished, scripted language of the previous GOP.
Florida wasn't always a Republican lock. In the 1990s and early 2000s, it leaned Democratic or swung wildly - think Bill Clinton winning it twice or the 2000 Bush-Gore fiasco. By 2012, Obama carried it. But starting in 2016 with Trump's narrow win, the tide turned. By 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis won reelection by nearly 20 points, and in 2024, Trump dominated with double-digit margins. Today, the DNC views Florida as unwinnable - they're not spending a dime here, redirecting resources to true battlegrounds like Pennsylvania or Arizona.
This isn't just electoral math; it's a blueprint for state-level realignments. Florida's evolution stems from demographic shifts, standout leadership during crises and a pivot to "common sense" governance that resonates locally and echoes nationally.
Florida's population boom - fueled by migration from high-tax blue states and Latin America - changed everything. And the pandemic was the ultimate turning point. A pragmatic approach boosted Florida's economy (unemployment below national average by 2022) and elevated DeSantis' profile as a no-nonsense leader. It drew in transplants seeking normalcy, accelerating the red wave. In communications terms, it was about trust: Floridians saw results, not restrictions, making the state a model for local resilience.
Florida as the State of Common Sense: Under GOP control, Florida branded itself as a haven for practical policies - low taxes, deregulation and pushback against "woke" overreach.
Special Guest (via Zoom): Jon Costello, President and Founder of Capitol Strategy Group (CSG) and former Legislative Affairs Director for Governor Rick Scott (R-FL)
The 2024-2025 transition was a whirlwind - Trump's team hit the ground running to staff up fast and avoid the pitfalls of 2016. As a communications strategist with experience in both Trump administrations, I was pulled in to assist on vetting and prep. But when they asked me to sherpa Scott Turner - a former NFL player turned HUD secretary - I was honest: I didn't even know the term. A sherpa is essentially a guide - as the one to navigate the nominee through the bureaucratic maze, from paperwork to politics, ensuring they're ready for Senate scrutiny.
This role may not be glamorous, but it’s crucial for building a functional government swiftly. As a sherpa, you’ll be part coach, part fixer and part strategist. While security clearances are important, the real challenge lies in navigating Senate confirmation, which is the ultimate test of your skills.
Trump speed means no honeymoon period - it's immediate action. In the first weeks, we rolled out over 50 executive orders reversing Biden-era policies.
Behind the scenes in the West Wing? It's an organized frenzy - early morning huddles with the President reviewing memos, rapid-fire meetings with advisors like Stephen Miller and his team on immigration or Sec. Bessent or Ambassador Greer on trade. Decisions happen in hours, not weeks, with Trump demanding results. As a comms guy, I saw how this pace keeps opponents off-balance and delivers wins for the coalition we discussed before.
The White House press office functions under sustained pressure, with staff typically arriving early in the morning and departing late in the evening. The work demands continuous awareness of emerging news, immediate response to developments and deliberate efforts to shape narratives around key administration priorities, including DOGE reforms, tariff enforcement, border security metrics and cultural policy adjustments.
A core responsibility is proactive defense against unfavorable coverage: identifying potentially damaging stories early and working to mitigate or counter them before they escalate. The goal is always to anticipate and address any negative mention of the President or a senior administration official without delay.
Campaign work centers on building electoral momentum, persuasion and rapid narrative control in a partisan contest. Governing communications, by contrast, operates in a more constrained environment - requiring precision to navigate legal, interagency and institutional considerations, while maintaining accountability to Congress, the public and the media.
This includes taking offensive steps to reshape access and accountability - for instance, restricting the Associated Press from certain press pool events and presidential coverage due to ongoing disputes over editorial decisions (such as adherence to executive orders on naming conventions like the Gulf of America). Come hear how that worked out.
The rise of the celebrity conservative is not mere happenstance; it stems from deep-seated issues that resonate beyond partisan lines, exposing the overreach of elite institutions and cultural mandates. These figures, often outsiders to traditional politics, are drawn in by concerns over free speech, government overreach, cultural erosion and economic realities that affect everyday Americans.
Censorship on social media platforms, mandatory ideologies in entertainment and sports, inflation and regulatory burdens stifling opportunity and a perceived assault on traditional norms through progressive policies on gender, family and education combined to make it so. This shift reflects a broader cultural realignment, where the left's dominance in celebrity circles has bred complacency and backlash. The movement's appeal lies in its defense of what many see as enduring American ideals against the encroachments of a disconnected elite class.
A diverse range of celebrities, including Joe Rogan, Dana White, Kid Rock, Nicki Minaj and others have gravitated towards conservatism. Each brings their unique platforms and personal stories, challenging the Hollywood monoculture. This phenomenon signifies a cultural turning point: celebrities are no longer bound by left-leaning norms; they reflect the nation’s diverse and independent spirit.
No - while Trump's personal presence has been a massive turnout driver (evident in lower Republican performance in some past midterms without him at the top of the ticket), the underlying realignment isn't solely personality-driven. The coalition's gains in Hispanic, Black and working-class voters stem from policy shifts that address real grievances: economic insecurity, border security, cultural displacement and distrust of institutions. These aren't fleeting; they've created durable voting patterns. Post-2024 successes in Congress show the movement institutionalizing - through figures who carry forward the agenda, stronger grassroots networks and digital communications that keep momentum alive. Challenges remain, like maintaining turnout in non-presidential cycles and managing internal tensions, but the wave is evolving into a sustained force. The GOP's future depends on candidates who can channel that energy without mimicking Trump exactly - focusing on results over rhetoric. This coalition isn't fading; it's maturing.
In the wake of recent elections, leadership transitions and shifting voter coalitions, both major U.S. political parties are undergoing profound identity crises. Democrats grapple with questions of direction after electoral setbacks, generational tensions, progressive vs. moderate pulls and how to rebuild a unifying message amid perceptions of being out of touch or too extreme. Republicans, unified around key figures and policies in recent years, now face debates over populism vs. traditional conservatism, trade/economic priorities, foreign policy alignments and sustaining a broad coalition beyond personality-driven loyalty.
This session offers rare bipartisan honesty, shared observations from both sides of the aisle and practical takeaways for understanding - and perhaps bridging - America's deepening political divides. Perfect for students, professionals, activists and anyone concerned about the health of our two-party system.