House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) called on the White House to fire Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, calling him a “dangerous xenophobe” in a post on X. The timing proved awkward: shortly after Jeffries’ post, President Donald Trump announced that Miller would be elevated to White House chief of staff.
“Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands,” Jeffries wrote. “His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor.”
Trump made the personnel announcement on Truth Social, saying Miller would take over the top staff role starting Monday, November 9, 2026, replacing outgoing Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
“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 said. “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!”
Other Democrats followed Jeffries in condemning the move. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) argued Miller should face scrutiny rather than a promotion.
“Stephen Miller is the chief architect of Trump’s racist, cruel, and un-American campaign of terror across our country,” Cortez Masto wrote on X. “Innocent people have died and families have been torn apart because of the policies he’s eagerly pushed. Miller should be under investigation, not running the White House.”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) tied the appointment to recent election results, writing that it signaled a doubling down on policies voters had just rejected.
“Trump’s elevation of Stephen Miller to White House Chief of Staff doubles down on the politics of hatred, lawlessness, and failure that the American people soundly rejected three days ago,” Beyer wrote on X. “Stephen Miller is the architect of Trump’s immigration policies that plunged quiet American communities into violence.”
Miller has served as deputy chief of staff and has been a leading voice behind the administration’s hardline immigration agenda. He is set to assume the chief of staff role on Monday, November 9, 2026.
