President Donald Trump has promoted Stephen Miller, his deputy chief of staff, to become White House chief of staff, in the first major staff change since Republicans suffered heavy losses in this week’s midterm elections.
Mr Trump announced the move on Friday in a post on Truth Social, saying Mr Miller would take up the role on Monday, 9 November. Susie Wiles, who has served as chief of staff since Mr Trump returned to office in January 2025, will move to the Trump Political Operation.
“I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026,” Mr Trump wrote. He thanked Ms Wiles, saying she had “done an outstanding job” and a “great job” as chief of staff.
Mr Miller, 41, has been one of the most influential figures in the administration and the driving force behind its hardline immigration policy, including the mass deportation programme that has defined much of Mr Trump’s second term. His elevation puts one of the president’s most loyal and ideologically committed aides at the centre of White House operations at a moment of political weakness.
The shake-up comes three days after Democrats won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, a result widely read as a repudiation of Mr Trump’s second term. The new Democratic majorities are due to take their seats in January, and party leaders have already signalled investigations and a possible impeachment vote against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.
Mr Trump has kept a notably low profile since the defeat, with his only public appearances focused on renovation work at the White House. On Friday he travelled to Florida, his first trip outside Washington since the election.
Senior Republicans have offered competing explanations for the losses. Vice-President JD Vance blamed the war in Iran, saying it had cost Republicans the Senate. Senator Ted Cruz pointed to tariffs and the war dragging on too long, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis argued his state survived because it had built “a record of achievement”.
Mr Trump also used Friday to endorse Joe Gruters to remain chairman of the Republican National Committee, despite the scale of the defeat.
Sources: Reuters, “Trump promotes Stephen Miller to post of chief of staff“; USA Today, “Stephen Miller to be new WH chief of staff; races still uncalled: Live updates“.
