After Midterm Defeat, Trump Picking Stephen Miller as Chief of Staff Signals Agenda Will Stay Hard-Line
Miller takes the top staff role
Trump announced that Wiles was stepping down and would be replaced by Miller, who had served as deputy chief of staff. Wiles was the first woman to hold the job and Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff.
Trump praised Miller as politically skilled and a strong manager. He said he wanted to make a change, while also describing Wiles as having done a very good job.
Immigration remains central
Miller helped design Trump’s immigration policies. During the first administration, he was the architect of the Muslim ban and assisted with the zero-tolerance policy that led to family separations.
The report says immigration, previously a political strength for Trump, became a liability after two years of mass detentions, deportations and armed agents in American cities. Miller’s appointment points to a continued hard-line approach.
Midterm discontent and uncertainty
The report linked the appointment to a crushing midterm defeat and described voter frustration with political leaders. A Mississippi voter said people were tired of politicians enriching themselves while others struggled.
The outcomes of Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska remained too close to call. The report also included remarks about Iran, including a Republican lawmaker’s concerns about the administration’s strategy and questions about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Key points
- Trump replaced Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller after a crushing midterm defeat.
- Miller helped shape Trump’s immigration agenda, including policies from the first administration.
- The appointment signals Trump may continue a hard-line immigration approach despite pledging to work with Democrats.
- Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska were still too close to call.