Trump names Stephen Miller White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles
US President Donald Trump has appointed Stephen Miller, 41, as White House chief of staff in place of Susie Wiles. Miller takes over on Monday, 9 November, days after Democrats won both chambers of Congress.
- Stephen Miller replaces Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff from 9 November.
- Miller is a central figure behind Trump's mass deportation policy.
- The change follows midterm elections in which Democrats won the House and Senate.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Stephen Miller will become White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, and Miller is due to take up the post on Monday, 9 November.
Miller, 41, is currently deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser. Trump wrote: "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".
Wiles, 69, was the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. She will move to Trump's political operation and confirmed her departure in a statement on X, calling the job "the honor of a lifetime". The Independent reported that she submitted her resignation to the president on Thursday and said Friday was her last day.
Speaking to reporters as he left for a weekend in Florida, Trump said, according to The Independent: "I think Susie's done a very good job, great job ... sometimes in life, you have to make moves". The Independent also reported that Trump called Miller a great manager and suggested he would handle day-to-day policy work. The administration had earlier rejected reports that Wiles was about to be replaced.
Miller has been one of Trump's closest advisers for more than a decade, since the 2016 campaign. He has played a central role in shaping restrictive immigration policy, including the mass deportation campaign of Trump's second term. France 24 said he faced particular criticism after two protesters were fatally shot by immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.
The change follows Tuesday's midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate. The Independent reported that Democrats will control Congress from 3 January. It also reported that outgoing North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis criticised Miller, calling him "a big problem".
The Independent cited an unnamed source saying Trump had been souring on Wiles as his popularity waned, and that some in his circle suggested her family members had taken advantage of her position for financial gain. That account was reported by one outlet only.
Background
khabr.pk reported on 6 November that Democrats won both the House and the Senate in the US midterm elections. It also reported on 5 November that Trump acknowledged the Iran war and the fuel prices it caused affected the Republican defeat.
Why it matters
Miller is known for hard-line migration policy, which can affect visas and immigration rules for Pakistanis seeking to move to the US. His promotion puts the architect of the mass deportation campaign at the head of the White House staff. Pakistani students, workers and families with US immigration cases will be watching how policy develops under him.
