Stephen Miller Named White House Chief of Staff Following Midterm Shakeup

President Donald Trump announced on Friday afternoon, November 6, 2026, that domestic policy adviser Stephen Miller will become the next White House Chief of Staff. Miller is set to take over official duties on Monday, November 9, succeeding outgoing chief of staff Susie Wiles.

The appointment comes in the wake of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, where Republicans lost both the House of Representatives and the Senate by wide margins. Trump announced the staff change on Truth Social, praising Miller as someone who has "been with me from the beginning" and calling him a very good manager.

What led to the leadership change?

Susie Wiles submitted her resignation on Thursday night, November 7, 2026, after Trump blamed her for the midterm defeat in front of others on election night, according to reports by The New York Times, NBC News, and the BBC. While Trump denied to reporters in Florida that Wiles was replaced because of the midterms, sources familiar with the matter stated that Trump accelerated her departure following the losses. Wiles, a 69-year-old cancer survivor, was the first woman to hold the top staff job in the West Wing and the longest-serving chief of staff from Trump's first term. Trump stated on Truth Social that Wiles "will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation."

How did political figures and allies respond?

Reactions to Miller's appointment were swift and polarized along party lines. Democratic congressional leaders issued sharp denunciations, while Trump's allies defended the choice.

• Hakeem Jeffries: Democratic House Minority Leader from New York stated, "Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands. His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today."
• Chuck Schumer: Democratic Senate Minority Leader from New York stated the news showed Trump "learned nothing from his historic defeat," calling Miller "the architect of the most barbaric, inhumane policies of this administration."
• Steve Bannon: Former senior Trump aide and podcast host said, "Miller knows the key issues and is a true believer — and he knows the ecosystem around the issues. Stephen gets parachuted in and takes immediate control."
• Steven Cheung: Trump administration communications director stated, "There is no bigger advocate for the Trump agenda than Stephen, and he will help the Administration deliver on monumental victories for the rest of this historic second term."

What happens next for the administration?

Stephen Miller officially assumes his new role on Monday, November 9, 2026. Beyond the chief of staff transition, Trump addressed potential broader administration changes in a CBS "60 Minutes" interview, stating he loves his cabinet but would be doing "maybe a few changes." It remains unconfirmed which specific cabinet members might depart, and it is unclear whether Wiles's deputies will remain at the White House. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats, including Representative Robert Garcia, have vowed to launch investigations and fight the new administration's policies as the new legislative session approaches.