Stephen Miller named White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles
The new chief of staff begins Monday as Democrats vow to escalate oversight following Tuesday's midterm losses.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Stephen Miller will take over as White House chief of staff on Monday, a move that places the architect of the administration's immigration enforcement program at the center of the president's inner circle. Susie Wiles, who has held the position since the start of this administration, steps down to lead the Trump Political Operation. The transition follows a night of high-stakes maneuvering that saw Wiles submit her resignation on Thursday evening.
The decision came shortly after Republicans suffered defeats in the midterm elections held on Tuesday. According to three sources familiar with the matter, Wiles tied her resignation directly to those results. She and the president had been working closely since he returned to the White House, with Wiles previously managing his successful 2024 campaign. The president announced the change on Truth Social, describing Miller as one of his most trusted advisors.
In a brief exchange with reporters, Trump defended the personnel swap. He stated that while Wiles performed a great job, he felt the need to make a change. Trump noted that Miller has been great and that sometimes in life one must make moves. He characterized Miller as very good politically and a great manager. The president said in a post that he wanted to thank Wiles for her service and noted she had done an outstanding job.
Wiles responded to the news on X, marking the day as her final one in the role. She described serving the president as the honor of a lifetime and expressed pride in accomplishments such as securing the border and cutting taxes. She stated that while her role is changing, her commitment to the mission remains. It is not yet clear if her deputies will remain in their current positions at the White House.
Miller has long been a close aide to Trump. He has managed a broad portfolio within the administration, most notably the design of the deportation program. Democrats on Capitol Hill view Miller as the driving force behind several hardline policies. With the incoming Democratic leadership set to take control of Congress in January, the promotion of a figure they consider contentious signals a potential shift in the dynamic between the executive and legislative branches.
Top Democratic leaders reacted quickly to the appointment. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer posted on X that Trump learned nothing from his defeat. Schumer called Miller the architect of inhumane policies and vowed that Democratic majorities would fight the president every step of the way. He described the choice as a worse decision than most.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the next speaker, used strong language in his critique. He called Miller a dangerous xenophobe and a reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands. Jeffries said his presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Rep. Robert Garcia, in line to chair the House Oversight Committee, said Miller should lawyer up.
Garcia stated that Oversight Democrats will continue to investigate Miller for misconduct. He said the committee will fight against Miller's policies in Congress and the courts. The new chief of staff is scheduled to begin his duties on Monday, bringing a new layer of scrutiny to the administration's operations as the new congressional session approaches.
