WASHINGTON, United States — President Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as his new White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
Trump announced the leadership change on Friday, November 6, 2026, three days after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.
Miller, 41, currently serves as deputy White House chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. He will assume his new position on Monday, November 9.
Wiles, 69, will leave the White House and move to Trump’s political operation.
The president praised both aides but did not publicly explain why he was changing his chief of staff.
Trump Praises Miller as Trusted Adviser
Trump confirmed the appointment in an announcement on Truth Social.
He described Miller as “one of my most trusted advisors” and said he would assume responsibility for managing White House operations at the beginning of the week.
The president also praised Wiles, who had served as his chief of staff since he returned to the White House in January 2025.
He said she had done an outstanding job and would continue working for his political organisation.
According to Reuters, the announcement represents the first major change in Trump’s senior White House leadership following the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections.
Wiles confirmed her departure and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve.
“Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honour of a lifetime,” she said.
She also said she remained committed to the president and his political agenda.
Her departure ends a tenure during which she became Trump’s longest-serving White House chief of staff.
Miller Takes Over After Republican Election Defeat
Miller’s appointment comes at a difficult moment for the administration.
Democrats won control of the House of Representatives and Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, ending Republican dominance of Congress.
The results will give Democrats new powers to investigate the administration, challenge its policies, and block some presidential nominations.
The new Congress will take office in January 2027.
Miller has been among Trump’s closest advisers since the president’s first successful White House campaign in 2016.
He helped shape several of Trump’s most prominent policies during his first term and returned to a senior position when the president began his second administration.
His responsibilities have included developing immigration policy, coordinating federal enforcement measures, and advising the president on homeland security.
The Associated Press described Miller as one of the principal architects of the administration’s immigration policies.
His promotion places him in charge of coordinating White House staff and managing the president’s policy agenda.
The chief of staff is one of the most powerful officials in the executive branch.
The position involves supervising White House personnel, managing access to the president, and coordinating decisions across government departments.
Miller Has Been Central to Trump’s Immigration Policies
Miller first joined Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016 as a speechwriter and policy adviser.
He previously worked for Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who later became Trump’s first attorney general.
During Trump’s first presidency, Miller became a senior adviser and helped develop the administration’s immigration restrictions.
He was involved in policies limiting entry into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries and efforts to tighten asylum rules.
After Trump left office in 2021, Miller founded America First Legal, a conservative legal organisation that challenged policies introduced by President Joe Biden’s administration.
He returned to the White House in January 2025.
Since then, Miller has played a central role in implementing Trump’s mass deportation programme and expanding immigration enforcement.
His positions have drawn criticism from Democrats and immigrant rights organisations, which have challenged the administration’s detention and deportation policies.
Supporters regard him as a consistent advocate of Trump’s immigration agenda.
Miller’s appointment does not, by itself, establish that the administration will introduce new immigration restrictions.
However, it places an official already responsible for much of that policy area at the centre of White House management.
Wiles Was First Woman to Lead White House Staff
Wiles made history in January 2025 when she became the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff.
A veteran Republican political strategist, she had played an important role in Trump’s presidential campaigns.
She managed his campaign operations in Florida in 2016 and 2020 before helping direct his successful national campaign in 2024.
Wiles was credited by Republican officials with bringing greater organisation and discipline to Trump’s political operation.
Her appointment as chief of staff followed the president’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
During Trump’s first term, four men held the position: Reince Priebus, John Kelly, Mick Mulvaney, and Mark Meadows.
Wiles served longer than any of them.
She also became known for maintaining a relatively low public profile while managing the president’s daily activities and relations with senior officials.
Her tenure was not without controversy.
In December 2025, Vanity Fair published interviews in which she made unusually candid remarks about Trump and other administration figures.
Wiles subsequently criticised the magazine’s presentation of the interviews, while the president publicly defended her.
As recently as October, Trump rejected reports that he was considering replacing her.
He said there was no possibility of her removal and expressed confidence in her leadership.
Her departure less than a month later marks a significant change in the administration’s senior management.
White House Faces New Political Challenges
Miller will take charge as the administration prepares for a period of divided government.
Democratic control of Congress will give opposition lawmakers authority over House and Senate committees, including those responsible for government spending and oversight.
The party has announced plans to scrutinise immigration enforcement, federal spending, and other administration policies.
Trump will retain his executive powers and presidential veto.
However, the White House will need to negotiate with Democratic congressional leaders to advance legislation requiring approval from both chambers.
The president has not announced whether Miller’s promotion will lead to other changes among senior White House officials.
Wiles, meanwhile, will continue working for Trump’s political organisation outside the administration.
Her departure and Miller’s appointment complete the first major reshuffle of Trump’s White House leadership following the Republican defeat.
