Miller Named White House Chief of Staff
President Donald Trump announced Stephen Miller will take over as White House chief of staff starting Monday, succeeding Susie Wiles.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People
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President Donald Trump announced that Stephen Miller, his deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, will become White House chief of staff starting Monday. Susie Wiles resigned from the post and will move to the Trump political operation.
Why it matters
The chief of staff oversees the Executive Office of the President and does not require Senate confirmation, giving Miller broad control over the White House. The change follows Republican losses in the midterm elections, when Democrats retook wide majorities in the House and Senate.
Miller, 41, will be the youngest White House chief of staff since Hamilton Jordan and only the second to hold the post in Trump's second term. Politico reported the president had been weighing firing Wiles before the move was announced.
The players
Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller is a longtime Trump adviser and Duke University alumnus who has served as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser.
Susie Wiles
Susie Wiles is a veteran Republican strategist who served as White House chief of staff and is now moving to the Trump political operation.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States, serving his second term.
The details
Trump announced the appointment in a post on Truth Social, while Wiles announced her resignation on X. Miller joined Trump's first administration in December 2016 and previously drew controversy over immigration policy in 2025.
Timeline
2016: Miller joins Trump's first presidential campaign as a policy adviser.
December 2016: Miller joins the first Trump administration as senior adviser.
2025: Miller draws controversy over immigration policy.
Tuesday: Midterm elections result in Democrats retaking House and Senate majorities.
Monday: Miller becomes White House chief of staff.
Power Structure
Miller will be the most powerful Duke alumnus in federal government since Richard Nixon, a comparison that places his influence alongside one of the most consequential White House operations of the modern era. The move also follows Republican setbacks in the midterm elections.
Miller's new role gives him direct control over the White House's internal operations and daily coordination across federal agencies. Readers following federal policy may see shifts in how the administration sets and executes its priorities.
The takeaway
Miller's elevation to chief of staff places one of the administration's most influential policy voices in charge of the White House's internal machinery. The change signals how Trump is responding to the midterm losses by consolidating power among his closest advisers.
Further reading
For more on the leaders shaping national policy, explore People coverage.
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Do you trust the federal government to handle immigration well?
