Stephen Miller takes over as White House chief of staff after midterm losses

President Donald Trump announced on Friday, November 6, 2026, that Stephen Miller is replacing Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. The change comes just days after Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Transition and Statements

Writing on his social media site, Mr. Trump praised Ms. Wiles and stated that she will keep working for his political organisation. Ms. Wiles also posted a statement on social media on Friday, calling her service an honour and highlighting achievements such as securing the border, cutting taxes, strengthening the economy, and putting America First. She added that her commitment to the President and the mission remains unchanged. Months prior, in March 2026, Ms. Wiles went public with a breast cancer diagnosis and later indicated she no longer showed evidence of the disease following months of treatment.

Background on the Appointees

Ms. Wiles was the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff and became Mr. Trump's longest-serving chief of staff, following his rotation of four different chiefs during his first four-year term. Her successor, Mr. Miller, is a long-serving trusted aide who joined the 2016 presidential campaign as a speechwriter and currently serves as White House deputy chief of staff. Mr. Miller is widely known as a key architect of the administration's hard-line immigration policies and previously worked as an aide to former Senator Jeff Sessions, who later served as Mr. Trump's first Attorney General.

Context

Changes in top political staff often follow major electoral setbacks like midterm defeats as leaders adjust their teams. The White House chief of staff manages the president's schedule, oversees staff operations, and coordinates policy implementation across federal departments.