Trump replaces White House chief of staff days after Republicans suffer midterm defeats

President Donald Trump has appointed Stephen Miller as his new White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles. This leadership change follows significant Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections, where the party lost control of both chambers of Congress.
Why it matters
The appointment of a hard-line immigration architect signals a potential shift in the administration's policy focus following a major electoral defeat.
Image source, Reuters By Madeline Halpert Published 6 November 2026, 19:07 GMT Updated Just now President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Stephen Miller, his deputy chief of staff, would replace Susie Wiles as chief of staff.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Wiles did an "outstanding job" and would be moved to the "Trump Political Operation".
The news comes after Republicans suffered a series of major defeats in the 2026 midterm elections, including losing control of both chambers of Congress.
Miller, considered the architect of Trump's hard-line immigration policy, has been a loyal ally of the president's and served as a senior adviser to Trump during his first administration. Trump said he would take on the new role on Monday.
In a statement, Wiles said being on Trump's team was "the honor of a lifetime".
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