Stephen Miller Takes Over as White House Chief of Staff in Post-Midterm Shake-Up
Stephen Miller takes over as White House chief of staff on Monday, replacing Susie Wiles in the biggest personnel change of Donald Trump's second term.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America
Stephen Miller takes over as White House chief of staff on Monday, in the biggest personnel change of President Donald Trump’s second term and a clear signal that the president intends to confront, rather than accommodate, the new Democratic majorities in Congress. Trump announced the appointment on Friday on Truth Social, saying Miller would start on Monday and calling him “one of my most trusted advisors”. Al Jazeera reported that Miller, 41, replaces Susie Wiles, 69, who resigned on Thursday.
Friday was Wiles’s last day, according to Al Jazeera. Wiles, the first woman to hold the post, is moving to the president’s political operation after overseeing Trump’s 2024 return to the presidency and running his three campaigns. Trump praised her, saying she had “done an outstanding job”.
- Stephen Miller, 41, takes over as White House chief of staff on Monday, replacing Susie Wiles, who is moving to the president’s political operation.
- Trump announced the appointment on Friday on Truth Social; Wiles, 69, handed in her resignation on Thursday and Friday was her last day, and Miller becomes the 33rd chief of staff.
- The appointment follows Republicans losing control of both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections, and it is read as a sign that hopes of comprehensive immigration legislation are now unlikely to be realised.
Miller has been one of the most powerful figures in Trump’s orbit for a decade. He served as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser in the second term, and was the principal architect of the administration’s hardline immigration policies, including the mass deportation campaign. He previously served as a senior policy adviser in the first term, writing speeches including the president’s 2017 inauguration address.
The shake-up comes days after Republicans suffered heavy midterm losses, losing control of both the House and the Senate. In his first major interview after the defeat, Trump had suggested softening his approach and working with Democrats on immigration, then changed course within days: “I wanted to make a change. Stephen’s been with me from the beginning. He gets it. Very good politically.”
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New chief of staff | Stephen Miller, 41 |
| Starts | Monday |
| Replaces | Susie Wiles, 69, first woman to hold the post |
| Wiles’s next role | The president’s political operation |
| Miller’s number | 33rd chief of staff |
| Miller’s previous roles | Deputy chief of staff for policy; homeland security adviser |
| Announced | Friday, on Truth Social |
Allies who had urged Trump to escalate the fight with Democrats welcomed the appointment, but the opposition criticised it sharply. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: “Trump has learned nothing from his historic defeat.” Miller’s elevation is widely read as a sign that hopes of comprehensive immigration legislation are now unlikely to be realised. The appointment landed in the same weekend Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes that his deportation policy might have been too tough, and his remarks about a legal-status deal split his own party within a day.
The White House confirmed Miller will become the 33rd chief of staff, putting him in charge of coordinating the president’s staff and policy priorities for the rest of the term. As chief of staff, he will control access to the president, manage decisions through the West Wing and oversee dealings with a Congress that has vowed to expand oversight of the president and his family business.
The change reshapes the balance of power in the White House. Miller has long wielded influence beyond his formal title, and allies and critics alike privately call him the administration’s “prime minister”. His promotion settles how Trump will handle two years of divided government: confrontation, not negotiation. The first test comes in January, when Democrats take control of the House and Senate and the two sides must agree on funding and immigration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Stephen Miller replacing as White House chief of staff?
Susie Wiles, who is moving to the president’s political operation after serving as the first woman to hold the post.
When does Miller start the job?
On Monday, as announced by Trump on Friday on his Truth Social account. Miller becomes the 33rd chief of staff.
What does the appointment signal about immigration legislation?
It is widely read as a sign that hopes of comprehensive immigration legislation with the new Congress are now unlikely to be realised. Miller was the principal architect of the administration’s hardline immigration policies, including the mass deportation campaign.
