President Donald Trump announced Friday that Stephen Miller, his deputy chief of staff and a leading architect of his immigration enforcement agenda, would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff on Monday, November 9. Trump said Wiles would move to his political operation. His announcement followed midterm elections that put Democrats on course to control both chambers of Congress in January (Stoddart et al., 2026; Trump, 2026).
Trump praised Wiles in his Truth Social announcement and later told reporters he wanted to make a change. Wiles said Friday was her last day as chief of staff. CBS News reported that she submitted her resignation Thursday night and that three people familiar with the matter tied the departure to the Republican losses. ABC News separately reported that sources said Trump privately blamed Wiles for the outcome (Jacobs et al., 2026; Stoddart et al., 2026; Trump, 2026).
Wiles helped lead Trump’s 2024 campaign and became the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff when he returned to office in January 2025. Miller served as a senior adviser in Trump’s first term and helped shape the current administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation program (Jacobs et al., 2026; Stoddart et al., 2026).
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the appointment, according to CBS News. Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said committee Democrats would continue investigating Miller. Garcia’s statement describes an oversight agenda. Trump’s announcement did not specify any policy changes tied to the appointment (House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Democrats, 2026; Jacobs et al., 2026; Trump, 2026).
Editorial Opinion
Trump responded to a congressional setback by putting one of his most influential policy aides in charge of the White House staff. That gives Miller more responsibility for an agenda he helped design. The clearest test will come in January, when incoming Democratic majorities can press the administration for records, testimony and answers about immigration enforcement. A change of chief of staff leaves the president responsible for how his administration answers.
References
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Democrats. (2026, November 6). Ranking Member Robert Garcia statement after Donald Trump announces Stephen Miller as chief of staff [Press release].
Jacobs, J., Watson, K., & Rinaldi, O. (2026, November 6). Trump installs Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles. CBS News.
Stoddart, M., Faulders, K., Kerr, N., & Scott, R. (2026, November 6). Trump says chief of staff Susie Wiles out, Stephen Miller will replace her. ABC News.
Trump, D. J. [@realDonaldTrump]. (2026, November 6). I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and [Post]. Truth Social.
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