President Donald Trump has appointed Stephen Miller, his long-time aide and the primary architect of his hardline immigration policies, as the new White House chief of staff. The announcement comes just days after the Republican Party lost control of the US Congress in the midterm elections. Miller, 41, is scheduled to officially step into the position on Monday, replacing Susie Wiles, who resigned on Thursday night.
Trump publicly announced the staff change on Friday prior to traveling to Florida. Emerging from the White House South Portico holding an umbrella, the president indicated his desire to shift direction following the electoral setback.
Trump stated that he wanted to make a move and praised both officials, describing Wiles as having done a very good job while calling Miller a great manager who is strong politically and has been with him from the start.
Trump subsequently boarded Marine One alongside Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior aide Natalie Harp.
In a social media statement, Trump referred to Miller as one of his most trusted advisors while commending Wiles for doing an outstanding job. Wiles, 69, who made history as the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, posted on social media that serving Trump was the honor of a lifetime.
In an additional statement, she expressed pride in joint accomplishments, citing efforts in border security, tax reduction, economic growth, and the America First agenda, while emphasizing that her commitment to the president and his mission remains unchanged.
Miller has served as deputy chief of staff since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. He previously worked as a speechwriter on Trump's 2016 campaign and was an aide to former Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, who later became Trump's first attorney general. During Trump's first presidency, Miller drove prominent initiatives including family separations at the border and travel restrictions targeting Muslim-majority countries.
His uncompromising public defence of the administration was exemplified during campaign events, where he urged voters to support Trump by citing the personal and legal sacrifices the president had endured for them.
Throughout his career, Miller has remained one of the administration's most polarizing political figures. A 2020 biography written by journalist Jean Guerrero was titled Hatemonger, and more than a hundred congressional Democrats previously sent a letter to Trump demanding Miller's removal, calling him a documented white nationalist.
Recently, Miller has continued to champion conservative policy priorities, including calls to terminate birthright citizenship.
Wiles's exit concludes her tenure as Trump's longest-serving White House chief of staff, a position that saw four different officials during Trump's initial term. A veteran Florida operative, Wiles managed Trump's successful 2024 presidential campaign and was widely acknowledged for instilling organizational discipline and curbing administrative leaks.
Typically avoiding media attention, she visibly declined to speak during Trump's 2024 election night speech.
However, she gained widespread attention last year following interviews with Vanity Fair, where her candid remarks included describing Trump as having an alcoholic's personality. Her departure comes several months after she publicly disclosed in March that she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer, later indicating no remaining evidence of the disease.
Political analysts and Democratic lawmakers interpreted Miller's elevation as an indication that Trump plans to adopt a aggressive posture against the newly elected Democratic congressional majority rather than seeking bipartisan compromise. Chris Whipple, author of a history on White House chiefs of staff, characterized the appointment on CNN as virtually a declaration of war, noting Miller operates exclusively at full throttle.
Veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod remarked on X that for those expecting the administration to pivot toward cooperation with Congress, Miller's selection represented a bucket of ice-cold water.
Critiques of the decision mounted among opposition lawmakers and former administration officials following Tuesday's election results. Vermont Democratic Representative Becca Balint posted on social media that voters had rejected the administration's policies, making the promotion of Miller sickening.
Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House communications director during Trump's first term, commented on social media that elevating Miller in response to the midterm outcome showed delusion or a potential disregard for the party's broader standing.
