After a midterm wipeout, Trump hands the White House to his deportation chief
Stephen Miller becomes chief of staff Nov. 9, as House Democrats prepare to investigate him.
President Trump named Stephen Miller, the aide who built his mass deportation program, as White House chief of staff on Friday. Miller replaces Susie Wiles starting Monday, Nov. 9.
Trump announced the change on Truth Social, calling Miller "one of my most trusted advisors." He wrote that Wiles "will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation" and thanked her for her service, CBS News reported. The post didn't say whether Wiles asked to leave or was pushed out, and it didn't say what her new job involves.
Three days after the midterms
The shakeup comes three days after voters handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress. CBS News estimates Democrats will hold at least 54 Senate seats and around 256 House seats in January. CBS called Miller's promotion the most significant change to Trump's team since those losses.
Wiles had been chief of staff since Trump's first day back in the White House, after running his 2024 campaign.
Who Miller is
Miller has been deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. CBS describes him as the architect of Trump's hardline immigration enforcement and deportation program. NBC News reported in February that Miller told ICE agents on Fox News they had "federal immunity," a week after federal agents killed Renee Good in Minnesota. After agents shot Alex Pretti, Miller called him a domestic terrorist and an assassin on X, claims NBC reported the evidence did not support.
The promotion puts the official most tied to the deportation campaign in charge of the White House staff. That campaign has brought ICE to job sites and workplaces across the country (here's what to do if ICE comes to your work).
What's next
House Democrats have already named Miller as a target. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, who is set to chair the House Oversight Committee next year, singled out Miller on Wednesday among officials who "have caused real harm," CBS News reported. Garcia said the committee will investigate DHS and ICE.
Miller takes over Monday.
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