Trump Names Stephen Miller White House Chief of Staff, Replacing Susie Wiles After Midterm Losses

President Donald Trump on Friday named deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, who resigned Thursday night after Republicans lost both chambers of Congress in the midterms. Miller begins the role Monday, Trump said.

Nov 07, 2026 - 08:22

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President Donald Trump on Friday named longtime aide Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles three days after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections. Trump announced the change in a post on Truth Social, calling Miller "one of my most trusted advisors" and saying he would begin in the role on Monday, according to CBS News, NBC News and Reuters. A White House release dated Nov. 6 described Miller as the 33rd White House chief of staff.

How the change was announced

In the Truth Social post, as quoted by CBS News, Trump wrote that "Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation," adding, "I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff — She has done a great job!" Speaking to reporters afterward, Trump said, "I wanted to make a change," according to CBS News and The Guardian. CBS quoted him as continuing, "And we've got to make moves. Sometimes, sometimes in life, you have to make moves."

Asked why he chose Miller, Trump told reporters, "Stephen's been with me from the beginning. He gets it, very good politically ... and he's a very good manager. He'll do a great job," the BBC reported. The Guardian reported that Trump made the remarks outside the White House before boarding Marine One for a trip to Florida, followed by Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and aide Natalie Harp.

Wiles' resignation and timing

Wiles submitted her resignation to the president on Thursday night, a U.S. official and a senior White House adviser told CBS News. Three sources familiar with the matter told CBS that her resignation was tied to Republicans' midterm defeats. CBS also reported, citing sources familiar with her thinking, that Wiles had planned to remain through Congress' lame-duck session and leave at the end of this year or early next year, and that the president accelerated her departure. CBS said it was unclear whether her deputies would stay at the White House.

In a post on X, Wiles wrote, "Today is my last day as White House Chief of Staff," and said serving Trump in the White House "has been the honor of a lifetime," according to CBS News. "While my role may be changing, my commitment to the president and the mission never will," she wrote.

NBC News reported that in mid-October Trump had told the network that Wiles would "be there until the end." The BBC reported that when asked last month whether Wiles could be replaced soon, Trump said there was "zero chance."

Wiles, 69, ran Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and had served as chief of staff since the first day of his second term, CBS reported. Reuters and The Guardian noted she was the first woman to hold the position. Reuters reported that she kept working while undergoing treatment earlier this year for early-stage breast cancer, and the BBC reported she announced in September that she was in remission. NBC News reported she had served longer than any of the four chiefs of staff from Trump's first term.

Miller's record in the administration

Miller, 41, has officially served as deputy chief of staff since Trump returned to the White House in 2025, Reuters reported, and is one of the few aides to serve through both of Trump's terms. A former aide to then-Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, he joined Trump's 2016 campaign, according to NBC News and the BBC. CBS News described him as the architect of the president's immigration enforcement and deportation program, and Reuters reported that he set a goal of 3,000 immigration arrests a day. Reuters also cited a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed early this week in which 36% of respondents approved of the immigration crackdown and 54% disapproved.

On X, Miller thanked Wiles and wrote, "The mission now is more clear than ever: Fight with all of our soul to support our President and defend this magnificent Republic," according to CBS News, NBC News and the BBC. NBC News reported that Miller, speaking alongside Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, pledged "my absolute loyalty, my unwavering commitment and my total devotion to your success and the success of this country."

Reaction from Democrats and Republicans

Democratic leaders, who will control both chambers in January, criticized the appointment. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X that "Donald Trump learned nothing from his historic defeat" and that "our Democratic majorities will fight him every step of the way," CBS News and NBC News reported. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called Miller "a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist" and urged Trump to fire him, NBC News reported. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said Miller "should lawyer up," and said Oversight Democrats would continue to investigate him, according to CBS News and Reuters.

The White House release compiled statements of support from administration officials and Republican lawmakers. Vice President JD Vance said Miller "will do great things," and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said there is "no bigger advocate for the Trump agenda than Stephen." A White House official told Reuters the appointment signals Trump is "not changing course." Marc Short, chief of staff to then-Vice President Mike Pence, told Reuters the choice "would not suggest that there is high expectation for bipartisan legislation."

What comes next

Miller takes over on Monday. Trump signaled further changes, telling CBS' "60 Minutes" in an interview taped before the announcement that he may make "a few changes" to his Cabinet, NBC News reported; the network said he later told reporters in Florida he expects "very little" Cabinet turnover. The BBC reported that several Justice Department officials, including civil rights division chief Harmeet Dhillon, have also stepped down since the midterms.