White House Communications Director Steven Cheung took an eyebrow-raising approach when replying to Richard Gere after the actor called out the Trump administration. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung reacts to an AP interview with Richard Gere. @StevenCheung47/XCheung, who is apparently single, has made a string of public attacks in his role as Trump’s White House communications chief—a role for which he is paid $195,200 a year. Gere is politically active, campaigning for AIDS awareness and human rights in Tibet. Gere, who advocates for human rights in Tibet, met with the Dalai Lama last July at his 90th birthday celebration.