A White House aide was tasked with playing Trump his favorite show tunes to calm him down, new book says

• A White House aide was reportedly tasked with playing Trump his favorite show tunes to calm him down.
• The former aide's talents came in handy when Trump was about to fly off the handle.
• That's according to Stephanie Grisham's upcoming book, "I'll Take Your Questions."

Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham writes in her upcoming book that a White House aide was tasked with playing show tunes to then-President Donald Trump to prevent him from flying off the handle.

The New York Times obtained an early copy of Grisham's "I'll Take Your Questions Now," which is set to be released on October 5.

The Times reported that, according to Grisham's book, an unnamed White House official nicknamed the "Music Man" was tapped to play the president his favorite show tunes to stop him when he was about to throw a tantrum.

Those tunes included "Memory" from the musical "Cats," Grisham writes, per The Times. Although the former press secretary didn't name the official, Politico reported in July that it was White House aide Max Miller, who is Grisham's ex-boyfriend.

Miller is among Trump's favorite aides, Politico said, and the former president endorsed him in his bid to unseat GOP Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio. Gonzalez was one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump earlier this year over his role in inciting the deadly Capitol riot. The Republican congressman announced on September 16 that he will not seek reelection.

Trump liked calling Miller "The Music Man," mainly because "he could kind of hum a couple bars of a song, and Max would know what it was, or be able to find out in a very short period of time," a person who worked with them in the White House told Politico.

The report said Miller's talents came in handy when Trump was in a bad mood; one person who worked for Trump and whom Miller reported to told Politico that "it'd be a good time to have Max come by" when Trump was unhappy, so he could "check on the order of songs or something."

But Miller also had a dark side, according to the profile, which cited multiple people close to Grisham. Among other things, Politico reported allegations that he slapped Grisham, who was then his girlfriend, more than once when she accused him of cheating on her. He also once reportedly threw a dog toy at her after an argument, and "pushed" and "slapped" Grisham when she suggested he had been unfaithful to her. Miller's lawyer denied the allegations, telling Politico in a nine-page letter that the former aide "has never, ever assaulted Ms. Grisham in any way whatsoever."

Trump gave Miller a ringing endorsement in his primary challenge against Gonzalez, calling him a "wonderful person who did a great job at the White House and will be a fantastic Congressman."

"He is a Marine Veteran, a son of Ohio, and a true PATRIOT," the statement said.