Trump Appoints Stephen Miller as Chief of Staff Following Midterm Losses

UPDATE - follow-up to Trump shakes up team as Democratic majority comes into focus: President Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as his new White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles following major Republican losses in the midterm elections.

Leadership Changes

Miller, who currently serves as deputy chief of staff, is set to take over the role on Monday, November 9, 2026. President Trump announced the transition on Truth Social, praising Wiles for doing an outstanding job and noting that she will move over to the Trump Political Operation. In his first statement on the new role, Miller said his mission is to fight to support the president and defend the republic.

Democratic Pushback

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, strongly criticized the appointment. Garcia vowed to launch investigations into Miller's past actions and policies, calling him the architect of unconstitutional immigration raids.

Justice Department Resignations

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice faces additional departures as two more senior officials have resigned following Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon's departure on Thursday. Jon Eisenberg, head of the National Security Division, and Jason Reding Quiñones, top federal prosecutor in South Florida, both stepped down on Friday. Attorney General Todd Blanche thanked both men for their service.

Election Results

In congressional outcomes, California state Sen. Scott Wiener won the race to succeed retiring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in California's 11th Congressional District after opponent Connie Chan conceded. In Mississippi, state officials are still processing absentee and affidavit ballots, leaving the Senate race between Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom as a toss-up. Meanwhile, Ohio Governor-elect Amy Acton stated she has no intention of speaking to her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, following a campaign ad featuring her estranged mother. The exact margins in Congress remain unsettled as dozens of House and Senate races await final projections.

Context

A White House chief of staff manages the president's schedule, oversees staff operations, and acts as a key adviser on policy and political strategy. These high-level departures and staff shifts often happen following major midterm setbacks as an administration resets its strategy for the remainder of its term.