Stephen Miller, appointed by President Donald Trump to replace White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles just days after Republicans suffered a blowout in the midterms, is expected to continue his hard-line approach on immigration and national security—and was also told by a top Democrat to "lawyer up." Trump announced Miller, who has served as deputy chief of staff for policy since January 2025, as his new chief of staff in a Truth Social post on Friday, describing him as “one of my most trusted advisors.” He will start in the new position on Monday. The controversial Miller has long been part of Trump’s inner orbit, serving as senior adviser and speechwriter during the president's first term. Miller will also likely play a role in handling the new Democratic-controlled Congress.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email. Immigration has been a major focus of Miller's tenure in the administration. He has been seen as an architect of the Trump administration’s hard-line approach to immigration and border enforcement.
Immigration was a cornerstone of Trump’s 2024 campaign pitch, and this is likely to remain a top issue for Miller. Miller enters the role at a potentially challenging time, as the White House is about to lose allies in Congress. Democrats will hold comfortable majorities in the House and Senate in 2027, so managing the relationship with congressional Democrats will be an important task for Miller.
In January, Democrats are also expected to begin investigating members of the Trump administration—including Miller. On Friday, Democratic U.S. Representative Robert Garcia, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ranking member, released the following statement after Trump's announcement of Miller's promotion: "Just days after the American people rejected his corrupt and lawless presidency, Donald Trump is doubling down.
Stephen Miller is the architect of the unconstitutional ICE raids that have terrorized our communities and kidnapped and killed American citizens and immigrant families. "Oversight Democrats will continue to investigate Miller for his misconduct, and we will fight against his hateful policies in Congress and the courts. Miller has defended the Iran war, a likely foreign policy priority for him and the administration.
The war has sent fuel prices soaring, is unpopular among Americans and has been seen as a reason for Republican losses in the midterms. Cartels may also be a focus for Miller, who in March said they “should be treated just as brutally and just as ruthlessly as we treat those organizations.” The economy was seen as a major issue that drove down support for Republicans in the midterms, so addressing issues of affordability and the cost of living will likely be pivotal for the Trump administration over the next few years, especially as the 2028 presidential race kicks off. An immediate concern some conservatives will want Miller to approach is the Supreme Court.
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