President Donald Trump appointed his long-time aide Stephen Miller as the White House Chief of Staff on Friday. After the Republican Party lost control of Congress, Trump handed one of the most powerful positions in Washington to this main architect of the party's most rigid policies.
Miller will replace Susie Rice as the White House Chief of Staff. At this time, Trump is facing a series of investigations by the Democratic-controlled House and Senate, as well as Congress against his administration.
As the chief liaison to the President, the White House Chief of Staff typically has significant influence. The Chief of Staff is responsible for managing the staff of the White House, arranging the President's schedule, and coordinating related matters with other government departments and Congress members.
Miller has long advocated for expanding presidential power. His appointment comes at a time when the Republican Party suffered losses in the midterm elections on Tuesday, which could lead to Trump relying more on executive power to advance his domestic policy agenda.
Trump posted on social media, saying that Miller is "one of my most trusted advisors," and also praised Wiesler for his "excellent work." Trump stated that this personnel change will take effect on Monday.
A White House official said that appointing Miller indicates that Trump has no intention of re-examining his policies, but rather wants to reward his most loyal assistants.
This official said, “He will not change the route.” Despite tens of millions of American voters having voted to reject Trump’s domestic policy agenda and foreign policy.
Trump said this week that he is willing to cooperate with Democrats in Congress. However, several White House officials stated that promoting Miller, known for his sharp words and uncompromising attitude, may indicate that Trump will adopt a more confrontational strategy and intensify his efforts to promote his policies on immigration and other issues.
As Trump's public support rate dropped to near historical lows, he was dissatisfied with the political efforts and messaging efforts of his team leading up to the election on Tuesday. A source close to the situation revealed that Trump said this week that given the Democrats regained control of Congress, the White House needed to take "more aggressive" actions.
Miller said on social platform X after being appointed: "Our mission is now clearer than ever. We must fight wholeheartedly, support our president, and defend this great republic."
The Democratic politician Hakeem Jeffers, who is set to become the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, posted a statement on social media in response to this appointment, calling Miller an “reckless extremist”.
The 41-year-old Miller is one of Trump’s longest-serving assistants, and one of the few advisors who has remained with him throughout both of his first and second presidential terms.
Since Trump returned to the White House in 2025, Miller has officially served as the White House Deputy Chief of Staff under Witherspoon. However, he has exerted influence on many aspects of Trump's domestic policy agenda far beyond his position, and he is highly trusted by the President.
Miller is perhaps best known for driving Trump to implement radical immigration crackdowns, setting a target of arresting 3,000 people per day. To achieve this goal, masked American immigration law enforcement officers have entered communities across the country, increasingly arresting individuals who have no criminal record and have lived in the United States for decades.
However, this crackdown did not gain widespread approval among Americans. A poll conducted by Reuters and Ipsos earlier this week showed that only 36% of respondents supported the measure, while 54% opposed it.
Democratic Party chairman Roberto Garcia of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced that the Democratic party plans to investigate Stephen Miller's immigration policies. He said: "Stephen Miller should hire a lawyer."
Miller also played a key role in Trump’s efforts to reform federal bureaucracy, which resulted in the dismissal of tens of thousands of civil servants by 2025. He was also a key promoter of the Trump administration’s opposition to universities, diversity initiatives, and other organizations.
In terms of foreign policy, Miller has publicly supported Trump’s deadly military strikes against ships suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. This action has raised legal questions.
He also praised the strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, and defended naval blockades and sanctions measures, arguing that these measures could weaken Tehran and limit its ability to threaten neighboring countries. Given that voters this week punished the Republican Party partly due to the economic consequences of the Iran war, it is still unclear whether Miller continues to uphold this stance.
During Trump's first term in office, Mark Schott, who was the chief of staff of then Vice President Mike Pence, said that Trump's choice of Miller meant he had 'gotten someone closely tied to himself', and this person was willing to fight against Congress on issues such as immigration policy and congressional investigations.
Shot stated in an interview that: "This does not mean that people have very high expectations for cooperation between the two parties on legislation."
Defense Secretary Patr**ic H. Hess**e**s**, facing calls for his impeachment due to the Iranian war, celebrated Miller's promotion on social media, writing: "Patriotic rule." This reflects Trump's allies being excited about Miller’s increased power.
