Stephen Miller starts as White House chief of staff, replacing Wiles

As of 7:24 p.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026

Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump's deputy chief of staff and the architect of his immigration crackdown, takes over Monday as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.

Trump announced the change Friday on Truth Social. "I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026," he wrote, according to AFP. "Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation."

A White House release the same day called Miller the 33rd White House chief of staff and said he "brings deep experience, broad institutional knowledge, and unwavering commitment to the role."

Wiles steps aside

Wiles, 69, submitted her resignation Thursday night and will move to Trump's political operation, a White House official told Reuters. CBS News, citing three sources familiar with the matter, reported that her resignation was tied to Republicans' losses in Tuesday's midterm elections.

Wiles ran Trump's 2024 campaign and was the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, Reuters reported. In a statement on X, she said Friday would be her last day. "Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honour of a lifetime," she wrote, AFP reported.

Asked about the move Friday, Trump told reporters: "I wanted to make a change. I think Susie's done a very good job, great job," according to CBS News. "Sometimes, sometimes in life, you have to make moves."

'More confrontational approach'

Miller, 41, is one of Trump's longest-serving aides and served through both of his terms, Reuters reported. He is best known for driving the administration's immigration crackdown, including a goal of 3,000 arrests a day, according to Reuters.

Several White House officials told Reuters that elevating Miller, whom the news agency described as caustic and uncompromising, could signal a more confrontational approach and a renewed push on immigration and other issues. "He's not changing course," one White House official said, according to Reuters.

Marc Short, chief of staff to then-Vice President Mike Pence in Trump's first term, told Reuters the choice "would not suggest that there is high expectation for bipartisan legislation."

"The mission now is more clear than ever," Miller wrote on X after the announcement, Reuters reported. "Fight with all of our soul to support our President and defend this magnificent Republic."

Praise and criticism

The White House release collected praise from administration officials and Republican allies. Vice President JD Vance called Miller "an amazing patriot" who "will do great things," and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he looked forward "to continuing to work with Stephen Miller, one of the President's most trusted and longtime advisors."

Democrats were sharply critical. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called Miller a "reckless extremist" in a post on X, Reuters reported. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said Democrats planned to investigate Miller's immigration policies. "Stephen Miller should lawyer up," Garcia said, according to Reuters. Attorney General Todd Blanche responded on X to a House Oversight Democrats post of Garcia's statement: "The Chief of Staff already has a lawyer. The Attorney General of the United States and the Department of Justice."

The chief of staff manages White House staff and the president's schedule and acts as his gatekeeper. Trump went through four chiefs of staff in his first term, Reuters noted.