In his first major reshuffle since his party’s midterm defeat, Donald Trump has named his senior adviser Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff — one of the most strategic posts in the US executive branch — signaling a renewed appetite for confrontation over moderation.
“Stephen has been with me from the start. He understands things. He’s a fine politician,” the US president told reporters at the White House on Friday, November 6.
On Truth Social, Trump later confirmed that Miller would take over on Monday from current chief of staff Susie Wiles, 69, who is set to take on other roles within the billionaire’s orbit but outside the government.
Wiles Departs After Midterm Defeat
“I want to thank her, she did an excellent job,” Trump wrote. Wiles, the first woman to hold the position, said on X: “My role may be changing, but my commitment to the president and his mission will never change.” According to a White House source, she submitted her resignation on Thursday evening.
Miller, 41, is best known as the architect of Trump’s aggressive anti-immigration policy. A leading figure of the hard right, he has served as the White House’s most prominent voice among identitarians who describe immigration as an existential threat to America. The reshuffle “represents an even sharper turn to the right,” the Washington Post noted.
Democratic Outrage
Democrats were quick to express outrage on Friday, arguing that the midterm elections had also amounted to a condemnation of the tactics of ICE, the immigration enforcement agency. “Donald Trump has learned nothing from his historic defeat,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on social media, calling Miller “the architect of the most barbaric and inhumane policies of this administration.”
“Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and a deranged extremist who has American blood on his hands,” protested Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives.
The appointment suggests a combative approach toward Democrats, who could launch multiple investigations into the Republican president and his associates. In a similar vein, Trump on Thursday denounced the midterms as “rigged” — despite having initially said after the Democratic victories that he was ready to work with his opponents.
Praise From the Hard Right
Conversely, several identitarian figures within the administration, along with influencers from the Maga movement, welcomed Miller’s appointment. “Stephen Miller is a tremendous patriot who is going to do great things,” Vice President JD Vance wrote on X. “Huge congratulations,” echoed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, judging that Miller “never backs down.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, it was Miller who in May 2025 ordered ICE to redouble its efforts when the number of daily deportations fell short of the figure recorded the previous year under Joe Biden.
In January, Miller also swiftly labeled Alex Pretti — an American killed by federal agents in Minneapolis amid protests against ICE’s presence — a “terrorist,” before walking back his statements, not without sparking controversy.
A Harder Line Ahead
The move caps a turbulent period for the administration. After the midterm drubbing, Trump’s far-right allies have been locked in debate over whether to break with the president, while Defense Secretary Hegseth faces mounting pressure over speculation he could be removed from his post. Miller’s elevation makes clear which direction the White House intends to take.
