White House chief of staff change: Trump names Stephen Miller after midterm losses

President Donald Trump on Friday said Stephen Miller was replacing Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. The change came days after Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections. The move signalled Trump was not shifting to a softer approach. Democrats were set to run Congress and challenge the White House.

Representative image

Miller was a long-time Trump aide and a key designer of hardline immigration policies. Miller joined Trump’s 2016 campaign as a speechwriter. Miller later became one of Trump’s closest advisers. Miller now served as deputy chief of staff for policy. Miller also oversaw a wide set of issues across government.

Stephen Miller and Trump immigration policy

The shuffle suggested Trump was leaning on executive power for the next two years. Miller backed Trump and the America First agenda. Miller also built deep knowledge of executive authority and federal operations. That record pointed to more executive actions ahead. The step followed the party’s midterm losses on Tuesday.

During the midterm campaign, Miller attacked Democrats on social media. Miller called Democrats extremists, freaks and America-hating lunatics. Miller also promoted unproven claims about election fraud in California and Alaska. Miller played a major role in an anti-fraud task force. It targeted benefit programmes and a green card decision.

Miller also served as homeland security adviser at the White House. That role let Miller coordinate work across agencies. Before joining Trump, Miller worked as a Senate aide. Miller worked for former Sen Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. Sessions later served as Trump’s attorney general. Sessions was also the first senator to endorse Trump.

Immigration remained a political risk for Republicans in the recent election. The midterm AP Voter Poll showed about six in 10 voters said enforcement went too far. Many voters also disapproved of how Immigration and Customs Enforcement did its work. Those findings sat alongside the White House shift on staffing after the vote.

"Just days after the American people rejected his corrupt and lawless presidency, Donald Trump is doubling down, said Rep Robert Garcia, D-Calif, who is set to become chairman of the powerful House Oversight Committee. Stephen Miller is the architect of the unconstitutional ICE raids that have terrorised our communities and kidnapped and killed American citizens and immigrant families.\"

In a separate statement, Garcia added: \"Stephen Miller should lawyer up.\"

Susie Wiles and Trump chief of staff change

Wiles gave Trump a resignation on Thursday night, a person familiar with events said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity about a private talk. Trump praised Wiles in a Truth Social post. Trump also said Wiles would keep working for Trump’s political organisation. The change ended Wiles’ run in the post.

\"Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honor of a lifetime. Im so proud to have been a part of what weve accomplished together from securing our border and cutting taxes to strengthening our economy and putting America First,\" Wiles said in a social media post shortly after Trumps announcement.

Wiles added that the commitment would not change. Wiles was the first woman to hold the chief of staff job. Wiles was also Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff. Trump cycled through four chiefs of staff during the first four-year term. They were Reince Priebus, John Kelly, Mick Mulvaney, and Mark Meadows.

Susie Wiles and Trump campaign record

Wiles brought structure to Trump’s campaign operations. The Florida operative joined Trump’s team during the 2016 bid in the state. Wiles returned for the 2020 effort in Florida. Wiles later oversaw a 50-state effort in 2024. Wiles became the second woman to lead a Trump campaign to victory. Wiles avoided the campaign manager title.

Wiles, 69, was credited with guiding the most disciplined of Trump’s three runs. Trump said aides often told him Wiles ran his best campaign. Trump also called Wiles the ice maiden. At the 2024 election night party, Wiles avoided the microphone. Wiles shook the head as Trump tried to draw Wiles into speaking.

Susie Wiles and Trump White House interviews

In December 2025, Wiles drew notice after Vanity Fair published interviews. The interviews included Wiles and other top officials. Author Chris Whipple conducted them over several months. Wiles spoke with unusual candour for a sitting chief of staff. Wiles said Trump has an alcoholics personality, though Trump does not drink.

Wiles also said then-Attorney General Pam Bondi had whiffed on the Jeffrey Epstein files. Wiles also said Vice President JD Vance has been a conspiracy theorist for about a decade. Trump and other aides defended Wiles after the report. Wiles criticised Vanity Fair for what Wiles called a disingenuously framed hit piece. Wiles did not deny the comments.

In the interviews, Wiles described a management approach. \"I try to be thoughtful about what I even engage in, Wiles said. I guess time will tell whether Ive been effective.\"

Susie Wiles and Trump health update

The departure came months after Wiles discussed a health milestone. Wiles indicated Wiles no longer showed evidence of breast cancer. The disease required months of treatment. Wiles went public with the diagnosis in March 2026. Six months after diagnosis, Wiles said pathology results were clear. Wiles thanked family, friends, and doctors in a statement.

Wiles gave special thanks to Trump for support. \"Shes tough, Trump said at a White House event in October. Shes a tremendous fighter.\"

In a rare interview, Wiles told Fox News Digital last month about the diagnosis. Wiles said a mammogram found the cancer. Wiles said the exam was not planned at first. A doctor urged it because a machine was available. Wiles said the schedule was busy and unpredictable. The comments added context to Wiles’ public disclosure.

\"Had he not encouraged me to do it that day, I would have gone back to work and probably not thought about it again until July, Wiles told the outlet. We would be having a very different conversation in that case. Four months may not sound like a long time, but with cancer, early detection matters. I will always be grateful to my doctor for knowing me well enough to insist.\"

Susie Wiles and Trump political career background

Wiles had a long record in campaigns and government. Wiles ran Sen Rick Scotts 2010 campaign for Florida governor. Wiles also briefly managed former Utah Gov Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential bid. Wiles spearheaded Ron DeSantis’ 2018 run for governor. DeSantis later urged the Trump campaign in 2020 to cut ties with Wiles, creating a rift.

The split fed later clashes inside Trump’s circle. It also shaped attacks on DeSantis during the 2024 nomination race. Wiles was the daughter of the late NFL player-turned-broadcaster Pat Summerall. Wiles worked for former Jacksonville mayors John Delaney and John Peyton. Wiles’ first White House job was scheduling for President Ronald Reagan.

Wiles also worked as a lobbyist alongside political roles. Wiles was a partner at Florida-based Ballard Partners. The firm gained notice in Washington during Trump’s earlier White House period. Wiles’ clients included General Motors and a children’s hospitals trade group. Clients also included homebuilders and the city of Jacksonville. Wiles also registered for Globovisión, owned by Raúl Gorrín.

Gorrín was charged in Miami with money laundering. The firm later called the work for Gorrín a mistake. The firm also said Wiles had almost no role managing that relationship. Trump’s decision now placed Miller in a key position. Wiles was expected to continue work for Trump’s political organisation, as Trump stated publicly.

With inputs from PTI