Trump Appoints Hardline Immigration Adviser Stephen Miller as New White House Chief of Staff

US President Donald Trump has appointed longtime ally Stephen Miller as the new White House chief of staff, placing one of the architects of his hardline immigration and domestic policies in one of the most powerful positions in Washington.

The announcement was made on Friday local time. Miller will replace Susie Wiles, with the appointment set to take effect next Monday.

In a social media post, Trump described Miller as one of his "most trusted advisers" and praised Wiles for doing an "outstanding job" in the role.

A White House official said Miller's appointment signalled that Trump had no intention of reconsidering his policy agenda. Instead, the president appeared to be rewarding his most loyal allies, despite millions of American voters expressing dissatisfaction with his domestic and foreign policies.

Trump recently indicated that he was willing to work with Democrats in Congress. However, Miller's appointment, given his reputation for confrontational rhetoric and uncompromising positions, suggests a potentially different direction.

Several White House officials believe the administration could adopt an even more aggressive approach to implementing Trump's policies, particularly on immigration.

Before the midterm elections, Trump had reportedly expressed frustration with his political and communications operations as his approval ratings approached record lows.

A person familiar with the matter said Trump had remarked at the time that the White House needed to become more "aggressive" after Democrats regained control of Congress.

Following his appointment, Miller wrote on X that the administration's mission was now clearer than ever, adding that they must fight with all their strength to support the president and defend the republic.

Meanwhile, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is set to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, criticised the appointment, describing Miller as a "reckless extremist".

Architect of Trump's Hardline Immigration Policies
At 41, Miller is among Trump's longest-serving political allies and one of the few officials to have served during both of the president's administrations.

After Trump returned to the White House in 2025, Miller served as deputy chief of staff under Wiles. Despite his formal position, he exercised considerable influence over almost every aspect of the president's domestic policy and was widely regarded as one of Trump's most influential advisers.

Miller was one of the principal architects of Trump's aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration.

He reportedly set a target of arresting 3,000 people every day. To meet that goal, masked immigration officers carried out operations across different parts of the United States.

The raids also resulted in the arrests of people with no criminal records, including individuals who had lived in the country for decades.

The crackdown has faced considerable public opposition.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted earlier this week found that only 36 per cent of respondents supported the immigration enforcement operations, while 54 per cent opposed them.

Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Democrats planned to investigate Miller's immigration policies.

He added that Miller should consider hiring a lawyer.

Major Role in Reshaping Federal Government
Miller also played a significant role in Trump's efforts to restructure the federal government.

The administration's changes resulted in tens of thousands of federal employees losing their jobs in 2025.

He was also an influential figure in the administration's disputes with universities, diversity programmes and various institutions.

On foreign policy, Miller has consistently supported Trump's hardline approach.

He publicly backed deadly US military strikes targeting vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. The operations have raised significant legal questions.

Miller also praised US and Israeli attacks on Iran and supported measures such as naval blockades and sanctions to weaken Tehran and reduce its ability to threaten neighbouring countries.

However, it remains unclear whether he continues to hold the same position following Republican losses in the midterm elections, amid growing concerns over the economic consequences of the war with Iran.

Appointment Signals Little Interest in Bipartisan Compromise
Mark Short, who served as chief of staff to former Vice President Mike Pence during Trump's first administration, said the president had chosen someone completely loyal to him.

According to Short, Miller is also prepared to confront Congress over issues such as immigration enforcement and congressional investigations.

In an interview, Short said the appointment offered little indication that the administration was interested in pursuing bipartisan legislation.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is facing calls for impeachment from Democrats over the war with Iran, welcomed Miller's promotion on social media.

"Patriots are in control," Hegseth wrote.

Miller's elevation comes at a politically sensitive moment for the Trump administration, with growing opposition to its immigration crackdown, questions over the economic impact of the Iran war and an increasingly divided Congress.