WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday announced that MAGA favorite Stephen Miller has been named his Chief of Staff, tapping the controversial adviser to lead the White House after Democrats’ historic midterm win this week.
Trump announced the change on Truth Social Friday afternoon, saying that Miller will begin his chief of staff duties on Monday. A White House official said Susie Wiles submitted her resignation Thursday night.
The appointment of Miller, who was the architect of the president’s mass-deportation campaign, sends a clear signal to a divided Republican Party that Trump intends to strengthen ties to the MAGA base in his final two years in office.
“Miller knows the key issues and is a true believer — and he knows the ecosystem around the issues,” said Steve Bannon, a former senior Trump aide. “Stephen gets parachuted in and takes immediate control.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is expected to become the next House speaker in January, called for Miller to be fired.
“Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands,” Jeffries wrote on X. “His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today.”
Miller has worked as a senior aide on Trump’s first campaign and is known inside the White House as the true loyalist to the president.
In a social media post, Miller said that he is “honored beyond words” to have been selected for the role.
“The mission now is more clear than ever: Fight with all of our soul to support our President and defend this magnificent Republic,” Miller said.
As he departed the White House on Friday, Trump told reporters that he “wanted to make a change” with his chief of staff and told CBS News that more changes can be expected in the future.
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said the decision to appoint Miller as Chief of Staff is a “kick in the teeth” to voters.
“Buckle up: this is a sign of Trump’s contempt for the voters. In the aftermath of an election that was a repudiation of Trump’s corruption, wars, cruelty, and indifference to the economic pain of Americans, it’s another kick in the teeth to the American people,” Van Hollen wrote in a social media post.
