Stephen Miller Named White House Chief of Staff, Succeeding Susie Wiles

President Trump announced on Friday that Stephen Miller will serve as the next White House chief of staff. The appointment replaces Susie Wiles, who held the position since the president returned to office. Miller, a longtime aide and immigration hardliner, will now hold the second most powerful role in the executive branch, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.

Miller’s career in Washington began in 2007 as a press secretary for Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and later for Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona. In 2009, he joined Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions as a press secretary before becoming the senator’s communications chief. During that tenure, Miller advised Sessions to adopt a more combative stance on immigration. He helped organize efforts to defeat a bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2013 by drafting a handbook for lawmakers. Sessions became the first senator to endorse Trump’s 2016 presidential run and later served as attorney general in the president’s first term.

Miller remained close to Trump after Sessions recused himself from investigations into the 2016 campaign and subsequent election win. The two maintained a close relationship during Trump’s first term, his time out of office, and his second term. When Trump lost the 2020 election, Miller co-founded America First Legal, a conservative nonprofit focused on dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, enforcing immigration laws, and protecting election integrity. He rejoined Trump’s 2024 campaign and returned to the White House as deputy chief of staff for policy and an adviser on homeland security.

As a policy adviser, Miller has been a central architect of the administration’s immigration strategy. He pushed for the suspension of habeas corpus rights for people in custody and increased daily immigration arrest goals to 3,000. During “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis, federal agents fatally shot two American citizens. Miller described both victims as “domestic terrorists” at the time. In the first Trump administration, he was a primary advocate for the family separation policy. His background as a Senate aide gives him a detailed understanding of congressional procedures and the use of executive authority.

The promotion has generated division within the Republican Party. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who has repeatedly criticized Miller’s immigration stance, called the decision a “colossal mistake.” Tillis told CNN on Friday that it was the last thing needed 72 hours after the midterm losses. “It is a colossal mistake, and the last thing we need 72 hours after the a, whooping we got on Tuesday,” Tillis said. Sarah Matthews, a former deputy White House press secretary, described the replacement of Wiles with Miller as “terrifying.” Another former Trump administration official told The Hill that the move was “exactly the opposite” of what voters demanded, noting that Wiles was “the best thing that happened to President Trump.” A former chief of staff suggested the choice might hinder the president’s ability to forge a working relationship with the new Democratic majority.

Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, has also established a presence in Republican circles. She served as communications director and press secretary to Vice President Mike Pence during the first term. Upon Trump’s return to office, Katie Miller became an adviser to the Department of Government Efficiency, an Elon Musk-led initiative aimed at reducing government spending. She currently hosts “The Katie Miller Podcast,” a program directed at conservative women. With Wiles gone, Miller assumes full control over day-to-day operations and staff management at the White House. The role traditionally serves as a gatekeeper for access to the president and is involved in all major policy decisions.

The appointment marks a continuation of Miller’s influence within the inner circle. While many aides have come and gone over the past decade, Miller has remained a constant presence from the 2016 campaign through both presidential terms. He is known for digging deep into policy matters, reading briefs closely, and demanding results. The transition places him at the center of the administration’s agenda as it navigates the political landscape following the midterms.