Trump Names Stephen Miller White House Chief of Staff to Replace Susie Wiles After Republican Midterm Defeat

President Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as his new White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles in his first major personnel shake-up since Republicans suffered sweeping losses in the November 3 midterm elections.

Miller, currently deputy chief of staff and a leading architect of Trump’s immigration policies, will take over on Monday, November 9. Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, will move to Trump’s political operation.

“I wanted to make a change,” Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday. “I think Susie’s done a very good job, great job,” he said, before adding: “Sometimes in life, you have to make moves.”

Trump praised his incoming chief of staff, saying Miller understood his political agenda and had earned his confidence. “Stephen Miller gets it. He is a very good man. He will do a great job.”

The decision follows Democratic victories that gave the party control of both chambers of Congress, leaving Trump facing a strengthened opposition for the remaining two years of his presidency.

Miller has been one of Trump’s closest advisers since his first presidential campaign and has played a central role in developing the administration’s deportation policies and its broader approach to executive power.

Wiles, who managed Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign, said Friday was her last day as chief of staff. She described serving in the White House as “the honor of a lifetime” and said her commitment to Trump’s agenda would continue despite the change in her role.

Trump also briefly addressed the war with Iran during his remarks to reporters, saying Washington remained in contact with Tehran.

“We’re talking to Iran,” he said.

The president also asserted that the United States had not lost a service member in the conflict for “seven or six months,” without providing further details.