Stephen Miller speaking at CPAC in February 2025. Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
President Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as his new White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles in the biggest staff shake-up of his second term. The move comes just three days after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.
The announcement
Trump announced the change on Friday, 6 November 2026, in a post on his Truth Social account. He said Miller, currently a deputy chief of staff, would take over as chief of staff on Monday, 9 November, calling him "one of my most trusted advisors". In the same message, Trump thanked Wiles for her service, saying she had "done an outstanding job" and would be moving to his political operation.
Who is Stephen Miller?
Miller, 41, is one of Trump's longest-serving aides. He joined Trump's first presidential campaign as an adviser in 2016 and served as a senior policy adviser during the first term, writing speeches for the president including his 2017 inauguration address. Since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, Miller has served as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. He is widely regarded as the architect of the administration's hardline immigration agenda, including its mass deportation campaign and the narrowing of legal routes into the United States.
Why Wiles is leaving
Susie Wiles, 69, was the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. She ran Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and held the post from the start of his second term. She submitted her resignation on Thursday night, 5 November, and Friday was her last day in the job. Her departure is the most high-profile exit from the White House since the midterm results, and she will now work in Trump's political operation.
A shake-up after the midterm defeat
The change follows a difficult week for Republicans. On Tuesday, Democrats won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, a result widely seen as a rebuke of Trump's presidency. Read our earlier report: Trump has signalled that more changes may follow, telling CBS News he intends to make further personnel moves. Promoting Miller, one of the driving forces behind his toughest domestic policies, suggests he plans to press ahead with his agenda rather than change course.
What a chief of staff does
The White House chief of staff is one of the most powerful jobs in Washington. The role involves overseeing White House staff and hiring, managing the president's schedule, and advising the president on policy. The White House confirmed Miller will become the 33rd person to hold the post, placing him in charge of coordinating the president's staff and priorities for the remaining two years of Trump's second term.
What happens next
Miller takes up the role on Monday, 9 November 2026. He will lead the White House as Trump faces a Democratic-led Congress that has promised tougher oversight of his administration, while the president weighs further changes to his team.
Source: Al Jazeera — "Trump names Stephen Miller as new chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles"
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