Miller gets top job as Trump team scrambles to keep government open
The new White House chief of staff takes office with 33 days until federal funding lapses, while a new investigation targets Nvidia's CEO.
By Harvey Wilson ·
President Trump appointed Stephen Miller as the new White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
The change marks the first major personnel move by the administration following the Republican defeat in the midterm elections. Miller served as deputy chief of staff and played a central role in shaping the administration's immigration policies. Voter data indicates that Democrats gained support during the midterms partly because of Trump's approach to immigration enforcement.
The 119th Congress enters its final weeks before a new Democrat-controlled House and Senate take office in January. Lawmakers must act before federal funding runs out on December 11. The groups are unlikely to negotiate the standard 12 appropriations bills due to the short timeline and political divisions. They will likely pass a short-term continuing resolution to extend government operations.
Republican leaders face a delicate situation in the House, where they hold a two-vote majority. Eric McDaniel of NPR noted that attendance could be a problem for Republicans who lost their seats in the midterms. Any absence could jeopardize Republican plans to manage the transition on their own terms. In the Senate, Republicans are expected to push for the confirmation of judges and other Trump appointees before Democrats take control. McDaniel said those confirmations would require significant compromises from the White House once Democrats hold the majority.
Nvidia launched an internal investigation after reports that CEO Jensen Huang had a close relationship with a woman accused of being a Chinese spy. The New York Times reported that a Chinese intelligence operation targeted Huang to move advanced Nvidia AI chips to China. China denied the allegations in a press briefing on Monday. The U.S. restricts exports of advanced chips to China, including Nvidia's top models. Huang has argued that allowing China to buy these chips would slow the growth of its domestic chipmaking industry and benefit America.
Trump said he thinks Huang is a fine person when asked about the incident. Huang has frequent access to the president and has traveled to China with him. The House of Representatives requested a closed-door briefing from Huang regarding his interactions with a suspected Chinese intelligence asset. Nvidia stated that neither national security nor its secrets are compromised despite the ongoing investigations.
A London court is set to announce the punishment for comedian Russell Brand. A jury convicted him on three counts of sexual assault and one count of rape. Brand has denied all charges. The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that the U.S. homeless population decreased by more than 6% in 2025. This marks the second consecutive year of decline. Pope Leo XIV arrived in South America on Friday for a 12-day trip across three countries. This will be his longest journey to date and his first major overseas visit since undergoing lung cancer surgery.
