Trump appoints immigration strategist Stephen Miller as chief of staff after midterm loss

UPDATE - follow-up to Trump replaces White House chief of staff days after Republicans suffer midterm defeats: Stephen Miller will assume the role of White House chief of staff on Monday, replacing Susie Wiles after Republicans lost control of both chambers in the November 3 midterm elections. Wiles, 69, submitted her resignation on Thursday night, noting her work in the White House has been the honour of a lifetime and that her commitment to the president and the mission remains unchanged. President Trump praised Wiles as having done an outstanding job and said she will move to his political operation. Miller, the longtime deputy chief of staff and chief architect of Trump’s hard‑line immigration policy, has served as a senior adviser since the first Trump administration and was a speechwriter on the 2016 campaign; he also previously worked for former Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump’s first attorney general. The appointment follows a wave of departures this week, including DOJ officials John Eisenberg and Jason Reding Quiñones, and comes despite Trump’s earlier claim there was “zero chance” Wiles would be replaced. Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia criticised the move, saying Miller represents the controversial ICE raids that voters rejected. Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung called Miller the biggest advocate for the president’s agenda and said he will help deliver monumental victories for the second term.

Context

The staff change underscores the administration’s shift toward its core immigration agenda after electoral setbacks, and highlights the president’s reliance on long‑time aides to steer his policy goals.