Steve Hilton: Difference between revisions

'''Stephen Glenn Charles Hilton''' (born 25 August 1969)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=XIvLrNzwHvdb6AyGp34Lvw&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=10 November 2021|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/3124238/Steve-Hilton-The-unseen-author-of-David-Camerons-bid-for-No-10.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003101525/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/3124238/Steve-Hilton-The-unseen-author-of-David-Camerons-bid-for-No-10.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 October 2008|title=Steve Hilton: The unseen author of David Cameron's bid for No 10 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=2 October 2008|access-date=7 January 2010 |location=London}}</ref> is a British and American political commentator, former political adviser, and contributor for [[Fox News Channel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Hilton: Why a second Trump term is so important |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0TLQtRP5no |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/y0TLQtRP5no |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|website=www.youtube.com | date=22 June 2020 |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He served as director of strategy for the British Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] from 2010 to 2012.<ref name="director">{{cite news |date=2020-03-23 |title=David Cameron's chief adviser just said austerity cost 130,000 avoidable deaths |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/03/steve-hilton-fox-news-cameron-adviser-austerity-deaths |work=[[New Statesman]] |access-date=2020-12-07}}</ref> Hilton hosted ''[[The Next Revolution]]'', a weekly current affairs show for [[Fox News]] from 2017 to 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2023-06-01 |title=Fox News Shakes Up Weekend Lineup, Steve Hilton's 'The Next Revolution' Ending Run |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/fox-news-shakes-up-weekend-lineup-steve-hiltons-the-next-revolution-ends-1235505462/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> He is a proponent of what he calls "positive [[populism]]" and a vocalstrong supporterendorser of former U.S. President-Elect [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Katz|first1=A.J.|title=Fox News's Steve Hilton is a Strong Believer in 'Positive Populism'|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/fox-newss-steve-hilton-is-a-strong-believer-in-positive-populism/331110|website=www.adweek.com|publisher=Adweek, LLC|access-date=11 December 2017|date=June 3, 2017}}</ref> He was a co-founder of [[Crowdpac]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/|title=Policy Exchange Home|website=Policy Exchange}}</ref> but stepped downresigned as CEO in 2018 due to conflicting values with the company.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Crowdpac|date=2018-08-10|title=A stand against Trumpism, a stand for democracy|url=https://medium.com/crowdpac/a-stand-against-trumpism-a-stand-for-democracy-a45e95a77ed5|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref>

Hilton's parents, whose original surname was Hircsák<ref name=HVG>{{cite web|url=http://hvg.hu/hvgfriss/2010.50/201050_steve_hilton_londoni_szurke_eminencias|title=Steve Hilton: londoni szürke eminenciás|publisher=HVG|date=15 December 2010|access-date=16 December 2010|location=Budapest|archive-date=28 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228032534/http://hvg.hu/hvgfriss/2010.50/201050_steve_hilton_londoni_szurke_eminencias|url-status=dead}}</ref> (which some sources spell "Hircksac"),<ref name="db">{{cite news|url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/conservatives/story/0,,1962285,00.html |title='David's brain' transforms Tory brand |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=2 December 2006 |access-date=7 January 2010 |location=London |first=Patrick |last=Wintour}}</ref> emigrated from Hungary during the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956]]. They came to Britain, initially claiming [[Right of asylum|asylum]], and anglicised their name to Hilton. Hilton's father, [[István Csák|István]], had been [[goaltender]] for the [[Hungary men's national ice hockey team|Hungarian national ice hockey team]] and was considered one of the topbest ice hockey players in Europe induring the 1930s.<ref name="Steve Hilton">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-03|title=How Steve Hilton became one of the most influential voices on Fox News|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/steve-hilton-fox-cameron-trump-b1797105.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/steve-hilton-fox-cameron-trump-b1797105.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-10|website=[[The Independent]]|language=en}}</ref><ref name=HVG /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://freakonomics.com/podcast/most-famous-political-operative-america/ |title=He's One of the Most Famous Political Operatives in America. America Just Doesn't Know It Yet. |last=Dubner |first=Stephen J. |author-link=Stephen J. Dubner|date=7 June 2017 |website=[[Freakonomics Radio]]|access-date=14 January 2018}}</ref> After arriving in Britain, his parents initially worked in catering at [[Heathrow Airport]]. They divorced when Steve was five years old<ref name=HVG /> leadingresulting toin what he has described as a struggle and great financial hardship; his mother worked in a shoe store but was primarily dependent primarily on [[Welfare state in the United Kingdom|state benefits]], and the two lived in a cold, damp basement apartment.<ref name="NLI">{{cite news |url=https://www.newsli.com/2018/11/01/steve-hilton-englands-horatio-alger-comes-to-america/ |title=Steve Hilton: England's Horatio Alger Comes To America |work=NewsLI.com |date=1 November 2018 |access-date=4 November 2018 |location=New York |first=Robert |last=Golomb}}</ref>

After graduating, Hilton worked atfor [[Conservative Central Office]], where he came to know David Cameron and [[Rachel Whetstone]], who became his wife and, later, Senior Vice-President of Policy and Communications for [[Uber]].<ref name="Guardian UK">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/14/rachel-whetstone-quits-google-role-join-uber-stock-exchange|title=Rachel Whetstone leaves Google communication role to join Uber|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=14 May 2015|access-date=24 May 2015}}</ref> He liaised with the party's advertising firm, [[Saatchi and Saatchi]], and was praised by [[Maurice Saatchi]], who remarked, "No one reminds me as much of me when young as Steve."<ref name="db" /> During this time Hilton bought the "[[New Labour, New Danger]]" demon eyes poster campaign<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election2001/images/0,9350,449562,00.html "Politics Election 2001: 'New Labour, New Danger'"], ''The Guardian'', reproduction of poster</ref> for the Conservatives' pre-general election campaign in 1996, which won an award from the advertising industry's ''[[Campaign (magazine)|Campaign]]'' magazine at the beginning of 1997.<ref>Andrew Culf [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1997/jan/10/past.andrewculf "Demon eyes ad wins top award"], ''The Guardian'', 10 January 1997</ref> The Conservatives went on tolater experienceexperienced their worst election defeat for more than half a century, with some journalists speculating that the poster contrasted unfavourably with Labour's more positive campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2012/10/15/obama-and-romney-second-debate-are-slogans-and-soundbites-helpful-605101/|title=Obama and Romney second debate: Are slogans and soundbites helpful?|date=15 October 2012|website=metro.co.uk|access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref> In 2005, Hilton lost out to future [[Secretary of State for Education]] [[Michael Gove]] in the selection process for the [[Surrey Heath (UK Parliament constituency)|Surrey Heath constituency]] of Parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3323956.ece|title=No 10s new-age rottweiler fights urge to slip the leash|work=The Times|access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref>

Hilton talked of the need to "replace" the traditionally minded grassroots membership of the Conservative Party, which heconsidered sawto asbe preventing the party from embracingadopting a more metropolitan attitude onfor social issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.channel4.com/gary-gibbon-on-politics/tory-mp-threatens-cameron-with-water-clock-torture/23030|title=Tory MP threatens Cameron with water clock torture – Gary Gibbon on Politics|date=21 May 2013 |publisher=Channel 4|access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref>

It is alleged that Hilton said "I voted Green" after the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|Labour landslide of 2001]],<ref name="db" /> but then worked with Cameron to re-brandfashion the Conservative Party as "[[Green politics|green]]" and [[progressive politics|progressive]]. According to ''[[The Economist]]'' Hilton "remains appallingly understood".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2012/03/steve-hiltons-departure |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |title=The government has lost its ultimate radical |date=2 March 2012}}</ref> There were reports that Hilton's '[[Blue skies research|blue sky thinking]]' caused conflict in Whitehall and, according to Nicholas Watt of ''The Guardian'', Liberal Democrats around deputy prime minister [[Nick Clegg]] considered him to be a "refreshing but wacky thinker".<ref>Nicholas Watt [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/jul/28/steve-hilton-policies-coalition-split "Steve Hilton policy leaks show Downing Street divide over David Cameron aide"], ''The Guardian'', 28 July 2011</ref>

Hilton was satirised inby the BBC comedy ''[[The Thick of It]]'' as the herbal-tea drinking spin doctorpublicist Stewart Pearson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/19/ex-no-10-guru-steve-hilton-provides-david-cameron-with-food-for-thought |title=Ex-No 10 guru Steve Hilton provides David Cameron with food for thought |last=Addley |first=Esther |date=19 May 2015 |access-date=22 May 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2009/nov/14/the-thick-of-it-series-3-episode-4 |title=The Thick of It: series three, episode four |last=Owen |first=Paul |date=14 November 2009 |access-date=22 May 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

Hilton was director of strategy for the UK prime minister David Cameron from 2010 to 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Jasper |date=2016-12-19 |title=Former David Cameron strategy chief Steve Hilton signs Fox deal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/dec/19/former-david-cameron-strategy-chief-steve-hilton-signs-fox-news-deal |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2020-12-07}}</ref><ref name="director" /> His last memo concerned the advocacy of severe cutsdecreases inof the number of civil servants in the United Kingdom<ref>Iain Watson [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18111271 "Steve Hilton's civil service attack uncovers coalition tensions"], BBC News, 18 May 2012</ref> and further welfaredecreases cutsof welfare.<ref>Patrick Wintour [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/16/cameron-adviser-steve-hilton-leaves?newsfeed=true "Steve Hilton's parting shots: £25bn in cuts and a broadside at the civil service"], [[The Guardian]], 16 May 2012</ref>

Hilton is a co-founder and former CEO of Crowdpac.com, a Silicon Valley technology start-up company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eventbrite.com/e/institute-of-politics-winter-2014-fellow-steve-hilton-reforming-the-conservative-party-in-the-uk-registration-10103777671 |title=Institute of Politics Winter 2014 Fellow Steve Hilton: Reforming the Conservative Party in the U.K. |work=Eventbrite}}</ref> In April 2016, Crowdpac launchedinitiated a beta service in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/about|title=Crowdpac {{!}} Giving politics back to people|website=www.crowdpac.co.uk|access-date=2016-05-26|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011221353/https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/about|url-status=dead}}</ref> Hilton resigned from [[Crowdpac]] in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/05/18/fox-news-host-steve-hilton-wanted-to-disrupt-the-party-system-this-week-he-left-his-pac/ |title=Fox News host Steve Hilton wanted to disrupt the party system. This week, he left his PAC. |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |last=Weigel |first=David |author-link=David Weigel |date=May 19, 2018 |access-date=June 15, 2020}}</ref> Crowdpac also suspended fundraising for Republican candidates on its platform.

In May 2015, Hilton joined the UK thinkresearch tankinstitute [[Policy Exchange]] as a visiting scholar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/modevents/item/steve-hilton-discusses-his-new-book-more-human-in-conversation-with-charles-moore|title=Steve Hilton discusses his new book More Human in conversation with Charles Moore|author=Matt Smith|work=Policy Exchange|access-date=16 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093357/http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/modevents/item/steve-hilton-discusses-his-new-book-more-human-in-conversation-with-charles-moore|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He is the author of the ''[[Sunday Times]]'' bestseller ''More Human: Designing aA World Where People Come First'', published in May 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Hilton - About the author |url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2172320/steve-hilton/ |website=penguinrandomhouse.com |publisher=[[Penguin Random House]] |access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=More Human |last=Hilton |first=Steve |publisher=WH Allen |isbn=978-0-7535-5678-8 |date=21 May 2015}}</ref> It advocates smaller, more human-scale organisations and is critical of large governmental and business, including [[intensive animal farming|factory farms]] and banks.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/more-human-by-steve-hilton-book-review-watch-out-for-a-tory-revolution-russell-brand-10267140.html|title = More Human by Steve Hilton, book review: Watch out for a Tory revolution, Russell Brand|last = Mcrae|first = Hamish|date = 21 May 2015|access-date = 22 May 2015|newspaper = The Independent}}</ref> With co-author Giles Gibbons, he wrote ''Good Business: Your World Needs You'', published in 2002.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Steve Hilton|author2=Giles Gibbons|title=Good Business: Your World Needs You|date=2002|publisher=Texere|location=New York|isbn=1587991187}}</ref>

He spent a year as a visiting fellow at [[Stanford University|Stanford University]]'s]] [[Hoover Institution]], has been a scholar at Stanford’s [[Stanford University centers and institutes#Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies|Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies]], and has taught at Stanford’s [[Hasso Plattner Institute of Design]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/news/top_british_advisor_joins_stanford_as_visiting_scholar_20120302|title=FSI &#124; CDDRL - Top British advisor joins Stanford as visiting scholar|website=cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu|date=2 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/892033-david-camerons-strategy-chief-steve-hilton-takes-one-year-sabbatical|title=David Cameron's strategy chief takes one-year sabbatical|date=2 March 2012|publisher=The Metro|access-date=16 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221405if_/http://metro.co.uk/2012/03/02/david-camerons-strategy-chief-steve-hilton-takes-one-year-sabbatical-340541/|archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Design the Way Up: Disruptive Solutions for Poverty in America |url=https://dschool.stanford.edu/classes/design-the-way-up-disruptive-solutions-for-poverty-in-america |website=dschool.stanford.edu |publisher=[[Hasso Plattner Institute of Design]] |access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref>

In 2023, Hilton foundedinitiated Golden Together, a bipartisan thinkresearch tankinstitute, with [[Lanhee Chen]] and [[Gloria Romero (politician)|Gloria Romero]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Ben |title=Former Cameron aide, Fox Host launches California group |url=https://www.semafor.com/article/06/08/2023/former-cameron-aide-fox-host-steve-hilton-launches-california-group |access-date=November 6, 2023 |work=Semafor |date=June 8, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Jeremy B. |last2=Korte |first2=Lara |title=Newsom's constitutional crusade against guns |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2023/06/08/newsoms-constitutional-crusade-against-guns-00100922 |access-date=November 6, 2023 |work=Politico |date=June 8, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The same year, he proposed a [[referendum|ballot initiative]] designed to reduce the [[housing shortage in California]].<ref name="Garofoli">{{cite news |title=Former Fox News host launches a proposed 2024 ballot measure to fix California's housing crisis |last1=Garofoli |first1=Joe |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/steve-hilton-ballot-measure-18348202.php |date=September 6, 2023 |access-date=November 2, 2023}}</ref> The measure would prohibit private lawsuits related to the [[California Environmental Quality Act]] and cap [[impact fees]] paid by homebuilders and developers.<ref name="Korte">{{cite news |title=The culture war goes to court |work=Politico |last1=Korte |first1=Lara |last2=Gardiner |first2=Dustin |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook/2023/09/07/the-culture-war-goes-to-court-00114415 |date=September 7, 2023 |access-date=November 2, 2023}}</ref> The [[San Francisco Chronicle]]'s Joe Garofoli calledtermed the ballot initiative a "developer giveaway", noting that it would give developers two of their major desires, but also that it may help stabilize construction workforces and draw more attention to housing issues in California.<ref name="Garofoli"/>

In November 2016, writing for [[Fox News]], he announced his supportendorsement for [[Donald Trump]] over [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|presidential election]].<ref>{{Citation|last=Hilton|first=Steve|title=Elites can afford a Clinton presidency, working people cannot|date=1 November 2016|url=httphttps://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/11/01/clintonelites-vscan-trumpafford-onea-thingclinton-nikkipresidency-haleyworking-knows-andpeople-should-too.htmlcannot/|publisher=[[Fox News]]|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref> Starting in 2017, Hilton presented the weekly show ''[[The Next Revolution]]'' on [[Fox News Channel]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/shows/next-revolution-steve-hilton.html|title=The Next Revolution {{!}} Steve Hilton {{!}} Fox News Channel|work=[[Fox News]]|access-date=2018-06-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]] and shortlysoon after [[social distancing]] measures and [[Stay-at-home order|lockdown]]s were implemented, Hilton calledrecommended onthat [[First presidency of Donald Trump|President]] [[Donald Trump]] to end the measures. Hilton criticised "our ruling class and their TV mouthpieces [for] whipping up fear over this virus". Hilton suggested that "the cure could be worse than the disease"; or more specifically that the long-term public health consequences resulting from the economic damage of a lockdown would be worse than the short-term public health consequences of the virus itself. Trump later appeared to mimic what Hilton said in one of his tweets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-fox-pushing-trump-to-prioritize-the-economy-over-health-2020-3|title=Trump's favorite Fox News hosts are pushing him to prioritize the economy over social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic|last=Relman|first=Eliza|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/488980-foxs-hilton-tv-mouthpieces-whipping-up-fear-over-coronavirus|title=Fox's Hilton: 'TV mouthpieces whipping up fear' over coronavirus|last=Balluck|first=Kyle|date=2020-03-23|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-steve-hilton-coronavirus_n_5e782792c5b62f90bc4d19cf|title=Trump Repeats Latest Bonkers Fox News Coronavirus Claims In Midnight Rant|last=Mazza|first=Ed|date=2020-03-23|website=[[HuffPost]]|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>

In January 2021, Hilton asserted that the [[Wuhan Institute of Virology]] [[COVID-19 lab leak theory|was the most likely source of the COVID-19 virus]] and falsely claimed that Dr. [[Anthony Fauci|Dr. Anthony Fauci]], director of the [[National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases]] and chief medical advisor to the president, commissioned the work which ledresulted toin the virus's development. ''[[PolitiFact]]'' described Hilton's claims as "rely[ing] on a series of unsubstantiated allegations to spin a conspiracy theory about the virus being a lab creation.".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=PolitiFact - No, Dr. Anthony Fauci did not fund research tied to COVID-19 'creation'|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/feb/08/worldnetdaily/no-dr-anthony-fauci-did-not-fund-research-tied-cov/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=[[PolitiFact]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gerstein |first1=Julie |title=Fox News pundit Steve Hilton pushed a ridiculous conspiracy theory that Dr. Fauci is behind the coronavirus |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-pushing-conspiracy-that-fauci-created-coronavirus-2021-1?r=US&IR=T |website=www.businessinsider.com}}</ref>

Hilton is married to [[Rachel Whetstone]], a former aide (political secretary) to [[Michael Howard]], former head of communications at [[Google]], former senior vice-president of policy and communications of [[Uber]], and current chief communications officer of [[Netflix]].<ref name="Guardian UK" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Grimes |first1=Christopher |last2=Nicolaou |first2=Anna |title=How Netflix became 'Hateflix' in the eyes of trans activists |url=https://www.ft.com/content/55b0d438-84cf-429e-b017-34208f77bdd7 |website=[[Financial Times]] |date=21 October 2021}}</ref> The couple were [[godparents]] to David Cameron's son, Ivan, who died at the age of six.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8742265/Why-every-baby-needs-a-power-godparent.html|title=Why every baby needs a power godparent|first=Cristina|last=Odone|date=6 September 2011|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> HeHilton became a U.S. citizen in May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/steve-hilton-applying-us-citizen|title=Steve Hilton announces he's applying to become US citizen|first=Frank|last=Miles|date=7 July 2019|website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>