President Donald Trump announced Friday that Stephen Miller will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, days after Republicans lost control of Congress in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, according to CBS News and Al Jazeera.
Key Highlights
- Miller, previously deputy chief of staff, starts Monday, Nov. 9, according to Trump’s post as reported by CBS News.
- Wiles is moving to the Trump Political Operation, Trump said.
- Trump later said the change was not a response to the midterm results, describing it as simply ‘time’ for a change, the Associated Press reported.
- Reuters, via Fox News, reported that Miller and others have prepared executive actions that do not need Congress. That report relies on unnamed sources.
What Trump Announced
Trump called Miller “one of my most trusted advisors” and said he “will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026,” CBS News reported. Trump said Wiles “will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation” and thanked her for her service.
Wiles wrote on X, “Today is my last day as White House Chief of Staff,” CBS reported. A U.S. official, who was not named, told CBS she submitted her resignation to Trump on Thursday night. That detail rests on one unnamed source.
Who Is Stephen Miller
Miller has been one of Trump’s closest advisers across both presidential terms, according to Al Jazeera. CBS and Al Jazeera describe him as the architect of Trump’s hardline immigration enforcement and deportation policies.
Wiles ran Trump’s 2024 campaign and had served as chief of staff since his first day back in the White House, CBS reported. CBS said it was not clear who will fill Miller’s deputy role.
The Midterm Context
CBS News called the change the most significant shake-up of Trump’s team since the midterms and said it signals a “doubling down” on his approach to governing. That is CBS’s characterization, not a statement from the White House. CBS and Al Jazeera did not cite an official reason for the change. The Associated Press later reported that Trump said it was not a response to the election results and described it as simply ‘time’ for a change.
Democrats will take control of Congress in January, according to Al Jazeera. For background on the vote, see our midterm elections coverage.
Governing Without Congress
Fox News said the move points toward governing by executive action. It cited Reuters, which reported, based on three unnamed people familiar with the planning, that Miller, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought and White House lawyers have worked since April to identify executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and federal spending that do not require new legislation.
Asked by CBS how he would advance his agenda with a Democratic Congress, Trump pointed to the Supreme Court’s June ruling in Trump v. Slaughter. “The Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before,” he said, according to Fox News.
Fox also reported that Trump discussed vetoing bills from a Democratic Congress until Democrats “come to the table.” The specific actions and timelines have not been confirmed.
Reaction and Oversight
Al Jazeera said Democrats are widely expected to launch investigations into Miller once they control the House and Senate. In response to possible subpoenas, a White House official said, “we still control the federal government and all of its powers,” according to Fox News.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said Democrats pursuing “sham investigations” are working “against the American people,” Fox reported. The coverage reviewed included no comment from Miller and no quoted Democratic response.
What to Watch Next
Key questions include who becomes deputy chief of staff, which executive actions come first and how Democrats respond once they hold committee gavels in January. CBS and Al Jazeera both marked their stories as developing, so details may change.
Watch: News Coverage of the Announcement
Video: “Trump replaces WH chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller” (YouTube).
Sources
- CBS News: Trump installs Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles
- Al Jazeera: Trump names Stephen Miller as new chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles
- Fox News: Stephen Miller takes over as White House chief of staff from Wiles
- Associated Press: Stephen Miller replaces Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff after GOP midterm defeat