Stephen Miller to Assume White House Chief of Staff Role After Midterm Losses
President Trump announced the personnel shift on Friday, placing Miller in charge of political operations while Wiles retains a role in the administration.
By Layla Edwards ·
The White House leadership structure changes on Monday as Stephen Miller assumes the role of chief of staff, succeeding Susie Wiles. President Trump made the announcement on Friday, a day after the midterm elections resulted in a loss of majority control for the Republican Party.
Miller currently serves as deputy chief of staff and an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security. He has worked with the president since the 2016 campaign and is known for shaping the administration's immigration policies. The new role gives him direct control over the president's schedule and access to information.
Wiles, who has held the chief of staff position since the start of the current administration, will transition to a political operations role. She worked on the 2020 presidential campaign in Florida before joining the White House. Wiles is credited with managing staff turnover and reducing media leaks during her tenure.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Wiles would continue to work on political operations. He told reporters, "Stephen's been with me since the beginning. He gets it." The change follows a period in which voters supported Democratic candidates, partly due to the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement strategies.
Wiles shared her reaction on X, noting her pride in the administration's achievements regarding the border, taxes, and the economy. She wrote, "While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will." Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and announced in the fall that she was cancer-free.
David Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron, described the chief of staff as a critical gatekeeper for the president's time. He noted that while the role is intended to act as a neutral broker, the chief of staff often serves as the final voice the president hears. Miller is expected to exert greater influence over presidential decisions in this capacity.
Miller took office on Monday, marking a shift in the White House management team during the administration's second term.
