Miller replaces Wiles as White House chief
The promotion places a longtime immigration hardliner in the top staff position following the GOP's midterm defeat.
By Rafael Delgado ·
Stephen Miller became the new chief of staff on Friday when President Trump announced the change in leadership at the White House. Miller replaces Susie Wiles, who held the position from the start of the current administration. The move places a senior policy adviser into the role that manages daily operations and staff.
Miller has served as an aide to Trump since the president's first presidential campaign in 2015. He previously worked as a press secretary for Rep. Michele Bachmann and later for Sen. Jeff Sessions. In that role, Miller pushed Sessions to adopt a more combative stance on immigration. He helped defeat a bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2013 by writing a guide for lawmakers on how to oppose it.
As deputy chief of staff for policy, Miller directed the administration's recent mass deportation efforts. He pushed to suspend habeas corpus rights for people in custody and triple daily arrest goals to 3,000. During the Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, where federal agents fatally shot two American citizens, Miller described both victims as domestic terrorists. He was also a primary advocate for the family separation policy in the first term.
The promotion drew sharp criticism from both parties. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) called the decision a colossal mistake and urged Trump to rethink it. Tillis stated that the move was the last thing needed 72 hours after the party's midterm losses. He accused Miller of giving the president bad advice on immigration. Sarah Matthews, a former deputy White House press secretary, described the replacement as terrifying. Another former official said the choice went exactly opposite to what voters requested.
Miller is one of the few aides from the first term to hold a high-ranking position in the second. He co-founded America First Legal after the 2020 election loss. That nonprofit focuses on dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs and enforcing immigration laws. He returned to the White House in 2024 as a policy adviser and homeland security consultant.
Wiles, the outgoing chief of staff, had served since Trump returned to office. Some staff viewed her as a check on Miller's influence. The chief of staff role does not require Senate confirmation. Miller will now manage the staff and control access to the president.
Miller's wife, Katie Miller, has also built a presence in Republican circles. She served as communications director for Vice President Pence during the first term. She later advised the Department of Government Efficiency initiative. She currently hosts a podcast aimed at conservative women.
