In a dramatic post-election White House shakeup, President Trump announced Friday that he is elevating Stephen Miller to replace Susie Wiles as his chief of staff. In a social media post, Trump called Miller “one of my most trusted advisors” and said that Wiles would be joining his political operation. “I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff — She has done a great job!” Trump wrote.
After Republicans suffered a sweeping and historic defeat at the polls this week, speculation has swirled about who would take the blame for the GOP wipeout, with some pundits predicting that the election results signal the end of the MAGA movement and the Trump era in American politics. Yet the move to promote Miller suggests that Trump is far from chastened by the clear and forceful rebuke that voters delivered to him and his party.
Instead, Trump might be doubling down on some of the very policies that voters rejected and installing his version of a “wartime consigliere,” a polarizing MAGA pitbull who may be more likely to fight back against Democratic oversight efforts than to work with Democrats on legislation.
Trump had said he was prepared to become “Mr. Veto” with a new Democratic-led Congress, but he had also said he could envision eventually negotiating deals with the other party. But his promotion of the 41-year-old Miller may well portend more confrontation than compromise. After all, Miller is the architect of the administration’s controversial immigration crackdown and mass deportation efforts. More broadly, he is known to be a driving force behind much of the administration’s hardline agenda. A critical 2020 biography of Miller was titled “Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda.”
Jean Guerrero, the investigative reporter who wrote that book, told NPR six years ago that Miller and Trump are very different but work well together: “Stephen Miller is a true ideologue. He's a fanatic. He believes this stuff, whereas Trump is a lot more motivated by self-interest. But ... they've been able to mutually benefit each other in a very unique way. In part, because Stephen Miller gets Donald Trump.”
Miller on Friday said he was honored to take on his new job in service of Trump, who he said “has single-handedly saved America from those who would destroy it.” He made clear he was ready to rumble. “The mission now is more clear than ever: Fight with all of our soul to support our President and defend this magnificent Republic,” Miller wrote in a post on X.
Wiles, 69, has been by Trump’s side for years and was essential to his political resurrection and return to the presidency. As the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, she was also critical to ensuring that the White House operation in Trump’s second term was more disciplined and less chaotic than it was in his first term. She battled breast cancer this year before announcing in September that she was cancer-free. Yet as questions started to percolate in recent weeks about her future in the White House, Trump in mid-October denied that he was looking to replace her.
“I could not be more happy with Susie. She’s done a great job from day one,” Trump told reporters. In a statement at the time, he said Wiles “is my trusted advisor, and has my COMPLETE confidence.”
That may have changed once the magnitude of the election drubbing became clear. Trump was reportedly infuriated by the results, and in response, Wiles reportedly offered the president her resignation on Thursday night.
“Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honor of a lifetime,” Wiles wrote in a post on X Friday. “I’m so proud to have been a part of what we’ve accomplished together from securing our border and cutting taxes to strengthening our economy and putting America First. More than anything, I’m grateful for the extraordinary people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will.”
Asked by reporters what changed in the weeks since he insisted that Wiles would stay in the White House, Trump moved on to another question. Asked again why he made this decision, Trump said it was time.
“I wanted to make a change,” he said. “I think Susie’s done a very good job, great job, but I just wanted to make it. Stephen’s been great. And we’ve got to make moves.”
Trump also praised Miller. “Stephen’s been with me from the beginning. He gets it. Very good politically, and he’s a very good man. He’ll do a great job — great manager.”
Democrats panned the move and slammed Miller.
“Donald Trump learned nothing from his historic defeat,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said. “Stephen Miller is the architect of the most barbaric, inhumane policies of this administration. Trump couldn’t have made a worse choice. Our Democratic majorities will fight him every step of the way.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the likely Democratic speaker of the House next year, called Miller “a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands.” He called for Miller to be fired rather that promoted: “His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor.”
Outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis also harshly criticized Trump’s move, calling it a “colossal mistake” after the GOP’s election losses.
“The worst of all possible choices,” Tillis told CNN, adding that Republicans lost Hispanic support because of their handling of immigration and Homeland Security policies, the core of Miller’s portfolio. “We’re talking about putting one of the most partisan, polarizing figures — and not only polarizing in terms of Republicans and Democrats, but even among Republicans. How do we think somebody [with] as divisive of a background as Stephen Miller is going to be the olive branch we need to the new Democratic majorities in Congress to get things done?”