President Donald Trump named his longtime adviser Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff on November 7, 2026.
The appointment followed a midterm election that handed Democrats control of both the House and the Senate. Miller took over from Susie Wiles on Monday, November 9, 2026, after Wiles submitted her resignation. Trump announced the shake-up shortly after telling CBS News he planned post-midterm changes.
Stephen Miller and Itmar Ben-Gvir both owe their prominence and access to power to their enablers – Trump and Netanyahu – and both traffic in racism and nativism to attempt to build power and incite fear. https://t.co/iGRlSBThwR
Miller Delivers Mar-a-Lago Speech
Miller delivered his first speech as chief of staff at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, November 6, 2026. He declared that the Republican Party was stronger and more resilient than ever, and praised Trump for saving the country from ruin.
I pledge to you Mr. President, my absolute loyalty.
Stephen Miller, White House Chief of Staff
Trump defended the personnel shift during an interview, saying he simply wanted to make a change. White House communications director Steven Cheung described Miller as a foundational figure in the administration since its inception.
“Stephen Miller has been a key player in delivering on President Trump's America First agenda including spearheading the administration's crime crackdown including in DC and Memphis, record setting deregulation, unleashing American energy, dismantling drug cartels, and securing our border,” White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said.
Stephen Miller is a Trump OG, someone who has been with the President since the very beginning. There is no bigger advocate for the Trump agenda than Stephen, and he will help the Administration deliver on monumental victories for the rest of this historic second term.
Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications
Lawmakers Respond to Appointment
Democratic lawmakers expressed immediate skepticism about any bipartisan cooperation under Miller. Senators and advocacy groups noted Miller’s history of partisan rhetoric, with some immigrant advocacy organizations calling on Congress to subpoena him and freeze funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Stephen has contributed far more to America at 41 than Abdul El-Sayed will in a lifetime. https://t.co/zhZp3YMHPC pic.twitter.com/TsLocAty4z
Observers pointed out that Miller’s hardline stance on immigration and executive power would likely result in an unchained approach to the remainder of Trump’s term. While some conservative Jewish organizations welcomed the appointment as a defense against antisemitism, liberal groups warned that his background could increase vulnerabilities for minority communities.
Following the departure of Susie Wiles, who Trump said would move over to the Trump Political Operation after submitting her resignation on Thursday night, Richard Walters also left the administration in an amicable decision.
Experts on White House operations said Miller functions as an ideologue and zealot rather than an honest broker. During his interview with 60 Minutes, Trump also addressed other members of his Cabinet, saying he loves his team and considers them good, while noting he would be making a few changes. Trump specifically defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when asked about his confidence in the Pentagon chief.
Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is expected to become House speaker when the new Congress convenes in January, delivered harsh remarks to reporters on Monday regarding the appointment. Jeffries said that Miller has zero interest in working with Democrats and called him a stone-cold racist whose track record speaks for itself when asked if Miller could be a viable partner to lawmakers.
Representative LaLota of New York told the Washington Sun that Miller could use his credibility with hardliners to help the White House strike a bipartisan deal on immigration. The White House maintained that President Trump’s strong immigration policy remains unchanged. Trump said at the start of a conversation that he would love to do something on immigration if possible with the incoming Democratic Congress.
Right-leaning pro-Israel groups hailed the appointment of the Jewish aide as a safeguard against antisemitism. Conversely, liberal Jewish voices warned that the promotion could make communities more vulnerable.
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the appointment is expected to reinforce dangerous ways the administration has normalized antisemitism and extremism, pointing to Miller’s embrace of anti-immigrant rhetoric popular on the far right. Spitalnick recalled a 2019 letter sent by Jewish Democratic members of Congress urging Trump to dismiss Miller during his tenure as senior adviser.
