Trump Replaces Susie Wiles With Stephen Miller After Republican Midterm Defeat
President Donald Trump announced Friday that Stephen Miller will take over as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles in a major leadership change following the Republican Party’s sweeping losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The president said Miller, currently his deputy chief of staff for policy and one of his closest advisers, will assume the position Monday, November 9. Wiles, who helped engineer Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign, will move into a senior role overseeing his political operation.
“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 starting Monday, November 9, 2026,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation. I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff — She has done a great job!”
The announcement represents one of the most significant personnel changes of Trump’s second term, coming just days after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress and delivered a major electoral setback to the president’s party.
Wiles, 69, has been widely credited with imposing greater discipline on White House operations and maintaining coordination among senior administration officials. She served as Trump’s chief of staff for approximately 21 months after managing his successful return to the presidency in 2024. During her tenure, she was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
Miller, 41, has been among the administration’s most influential policymakers, working closely with federal departments and agencies to implement the president’s priorities. His responsibilities have included advancing Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and coordinating the release of previously classified government documents concerning unidentified flying objects.
His elevation is widely viewed as a signal that Trump intends to adopt a more confrontational strategy as Democrats prepare to use their newly won congressional majorities to investigate the administration and challenge its policies.
A White House official, speaking to the New York Post before the personnel announcement, suggested that administration officials were preparing for an intensified political battle.
“There are still many who are gearing up for the challenge. It’s time to fight even harder,” the official said.
Wiles, meanwhile, expressed appreciation for her time at the White House and emphasized that her departure from the chief of staff position would not diminish her loyalty to the president.
“Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honor of a lifetime,” Wiles said on Friday. “I’m so proud to have been a part of what we’ve accomplished together from securing our border and cutting taxes to strengthening our economy and putting America First.
“More than anything, I’m grateful for the extraordinary people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will,” she added.
The personnel change follows several weeks of speculation about Wiles’ future. In mid-October, Trump publicly rejected reports that he was considering replacing her, insisting there was “zero chance” of such a move and praising her loyalty and performance.
Wiles also made history as the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. Her departure comes after she completed treatment for breast cancer and announced in September that she was cancer-free.
Miller has been part of Trump’s political circle since the 2016 presidential campaign and is considered one of the principal architects of his administration’s strict immigration policies. His appointment places a longtime ideological ally in charge of coordinating White House operations as the president prepares for two years of divided government.
