Memorandum
- From
- Caroline Mercer
- Date
- Filed
- Politics·3 min to read
- Re
Stephen Miller becomes White House chief of staff replacing Susie Wiles
ReStephen Miller becomes White House chief of staff replacing Susie Wiles
Stephen Miller, the hardline architect of Donald Trump's mass deportation policy, has assumed the role of White House chief of staff, succeeding Susie Wiles after heavy Republican losses in the midterm elections.
Stephen Miller, a longtime hardline adviser to President Donald Trump and the architect of the administration's mass deportation policy, has taken over as White House chief of staff. The change, reported to have taken effect on Monday, November 9, 2026, replaces Susie Wiles in the post and places one of the most divisive figures of Trump's first and second terms at the center of day-to-day control of the White House.
Miller, 41, previously served as a deputy chief of staff, a role that already gave him a significant place inside the West Wing. He is widely credited with driving a hardline immigration crackdown, and he is the main figure behind the mass deportation agenda that has defined much of the administration's domestic policy. His elevation to the top staff position gives him broader authority over White House operations, and his influence over the direction of the administration is expected to grow as a result.
The leadership change follows what has been described as massive, nationwide losses for Republicans in the US midterm elections. The scale of the defeat has put pressure on the White House to reassess its course, though the reporting available does not detail how the administration itself has responded to the results. Axios reports that the move marks the first major White House departure tied to Miller's takeover, and it names Richard Walters as among those leaving. The available reporting does not provide further detail on Walters's departure or his role in the administration.
Miller's rise has drawn sharp commentary. A New York Times opinion piece compared him to Roy Cohn, the lawyer long associated with aggressive, combative tactics in Washington. That comparison is the view of a columnist rather than a reported fact about Miller's conduct, but it reflects the strong reactions his prominence tends to provoke. Miller's supporters and critics alike have long viewed him as the driving force behind the administration's most contested immigration measures, which is why his move into the chief of staff role is being read as a signal about where the White House is headed.
The reporting does not make clear how Wiles's exit is being framed by the administration, and it does not say whether her departure was voluntary or the result of the midterm fallout. It also remains unclear what policy shifts will follow the leadership change. With Miller now in the top staff position and the party facing a difficult electoral result, observers will be watching whether the White House adjusts its approach on immigration and other priorities, or whether the new chief of staff's influence deepens the existing course.
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