President Donald Trump named Stephen Miller as his new White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles following Republican losses in the midterm elections in which Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, according to reports, according to NBC News.
Political Shake-Up
The high-level personnel change comes as the administration confronts a divided government and an incoming Democratic majority in Washington. Trump announced the promotion on Truth Social. Wiles submitted her resignation on Thursday night following the party’s election losses.
Trump revealed the shake-up three days after Democrats won midterm elections, gaining majority control in the House and Senate. Promoting Miller, the mastermind behind Trump’s contentious mass-deportation strategies, is certain to provoke the new cohort of congressional Democrats who have already pledged to probe the administration’s immigration agenda.
It has been the privilege of my lifetime to have served on his team from Day One, and I am honored beyond words to serve as his White House Chief of Staff,
Miller said on X later Friday.
MS NOW reported that Wiles addressed Trump, who was reportedly frustrated with her after the GOP suffered significant election defeats, saying, let me make this easy on you — I am going to resign,
Today is my last day as White House Chief of Staff,
Wiles said in an X post Friday afternoon.
Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honor of a lifetime. While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will,
she wrote.
Senior administration officials quickly offered their congratulations to Miller. Patriots in control,
read an X post from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose tenure is under scrutiny after some Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, raised objections.
Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands. His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today.
Others interpreted Miller’s advancement as an indication that Trump, who appeared somewhat open to compromising with a Democratic-led Congress, will instead adopt a hostile stance. For those who hoped the president might pivot to work with the incoming Congress, the appointment of Miller is a bucket of ice cold water, wrote David Axelrod, a former senior advisor.
Politico reported that after Republicans endured devastating setbacks in Tuesday’s midterm elections, Katie Miller reached out to administration allies and officials, encouraging them to back her husband as the successor to Susie Wiles if they felt he was a better fit for the role than other candidates.
By Friday, Stephen Miller had landed the top job. This is what happens when you get creamed,
a source told Politico. Sources informed the outlet that Katie Miller — a podcast host and former adviser to Elon Musk — did not advocate for the removal of Wiles.
Immigration and Policy Record
Miller assumes the chief of staff role after serving as deputy chief of staff and chief architect of the administration’s mass-deportation campaign. Miller is recognized for his aggressive rhetoric and unapologetic style, which draws scrutiny, having been a vocal proponent of Trump’s most ambitious government-restructuring objectives dating back to his 2016 presidential campaign.
Democrats are expected to closely examine his track record in his new, influential capacity as he guides Trump’s White House through a challenging lame duck session after the GOP lost its majority in both congressional chambers.
White House spokesperson Lauren Bis defended his record, stating that Stephen Miller has been a key player in delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda since day one,
citing deregulation, energy production, and border security. During a 2023 spike in illegal border crossings, Miller described migrants as invaders. He also stated that unless there are massive large-scale deportations by the millions, the situation will be irrevocable.
His elevation drew sharp condemnation from congressional Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wrote on X that Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands. His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., added that Trump had learned nothing from his historic defeat,
calling Miller the architect of the most barbaric, inhumane policies of this administration.
Our Democratic majorities will fight him every step of the way,
Schumer wrote.
Legislative Conflict
The staff transition suggests a combative approach toward Capitol Hill and corporate interests. Miller’s appointment closes that door and sets the stage for direct confrontation with big business. A prominent DC lobbyist mentioned to Semafor that CEOs are currently uncertain about who to contact and doubt that Miller, whose professional focus has centered on restricting immigration, is likely to support their interests with Trump.
Simultaneously, the administration faces internal battles over Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Outgoing Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, 55, who has regularly clashed with Trump, 80, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth over unauthorized military hostilities and for violating constitutional war powers, according to The Daily Beast.
Massie told CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins that impeachment is actually a kind of polite thing and that he is not proposing Hegseth go to prison, but rather that he needs to be out of a job right now, adding that when Democrats get control in January, they will not be as polite.