Stephen Miller takes over as White House chief of staff after Susie Wiles steps down

US President Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as the new White House chief of staff. Miller, who is 41 years old, takes over the role from Susie Wiles on Monday, November 9. The announcement came on Friday, November 6, just days after the Republican Party lost control of Congress in the midterm elections.

Roles and Background

The chief of staff acts as the president's gatekeeper, managing White House staff, planning the president's time, and dealing with government departments and lawmakers. Miller was born in Santa Monica, California, and previously worked as an aide to Republican lawmakers like Jeff Sessions before joining Trump's 2016 campaign as a speechwriter. Since January 2025, he has served as the deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser.

Policy and Public Response

Miller is best known for his strict immigration policies, which included setting a target of 3,000 arrests a day and deploying masked immigration officers across the country. He also supported efforts to cut the federal workforce, which resulted in tens of thousands of civil servants losing their jobs, and backed military strikes. Public polls showed mixed reactions, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll finding that 36 percent of people approved of the immigration crackdown while 54 percent disapproved, and another poll showing about six in ten felt enforcement had gone too far.

Reactions and Political Impact

Following the appointment, Trump called Miller one of his most trusted advisors, while outgoing chief Susie Wiles moved to the president's political operation as the first woman to hold the post. Democratic leaders sharply criticized the choice, with incoming House speaker Hakeem Jeffries calling Miller a reckless extremist and House Oversight Committee leader Robert Garcia stating that the administration should expect investigations into its immigration policies. Marc Short, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, noted that the appointment signals low chances for cross-party laws.

Context

White House chief of staff positions are among the most influential roles in American politics, directly shaping how a president executes their domestic and legislative agenda. When a president faces an opposing party controlling Congress, the choice of chief of staff often reflects whether the administration plans to compromise or pursue a combative strategy.