President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Stephen Miller, currently White House Deputy Chief of Staff, will become Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026, replacing Susie Wiles. The move triggered immediate and pointed criticism from Democratic lawmakers, several of whom pledged to pursue investigations and legal scrutiny of Miller over his role in shaping the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
“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 wrote in a Truth Social post. “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!”
Democrats React
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was among the first to respond, calling the appointment “an insult to every American who voted for change on Tuesday.”
“Donald Trump just promoted one of the most vile thugs to ever slither into the Oval Office. Stephen Miller cooked up the sadistic mass deportation regime that ripped families and trampled basic civil rights.”
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) issued a statement, shared by Punchbowl News congressional reporter Max Cohen, warning that Oversight Democrats intend to keep investigating Miller.
“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. Stephen Miller should lawyer up.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) framed the appointment as retaliatory, writing on X: “Stephen Miller is the architect of Trump’s rogue immigration policy. Appointing him Chief of Staff is an act of vengeance against the millions of Latinos who came out to call for abolishing ICE. No matter what position Miller holds, House Democrats will hold him accountable.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) tied the appointment to broader policy grievances, saying it amounted to “a giant middle finger to every single voter who came out to the polls and demanded a change from the corruption and cruelty of the last two years.” She added that Miller was “the architect of Project 2025, which included the push for ‘unitary executive power’ that Trump used to enrich himself and his billionaire buddies, enabled the failed efforts of Elon Musk and DOGE, the stripping of healthcare from millions of people, and the mass deportation agenda that led to ICE and CBP killing people in the streets, separating families, locking up kids and gutting the legal immigration system.”
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) wrote, “Stephen Miller is a white supremacist. Promoting the guy responsible for ICE detaining our neighbors and killing people in the streets is Trump doubling down on cruelty and corruption. The administration is falling apart, and Trump is panicking, as he should be.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) warned that Miller should expect congressional scrutiny in his new role: “Stephen Miller is the brains behind the most depraved immigration policies we’ve seen in generations—policies the American people just emphatically rejected. The new White House Chief of Staff better get ready to testify and answer for the chaos he unleashed.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the pick a mistake, writing: “Donald Trump learned nothing from his historic defeat. Stephen Miller is the architect of the most barbaric, inhumane policies of this administration. Trump couldn’t have made a worse choice. Our Democratic majorities will fight him every step of the way.”
The reactions come as Trump transitions Wiles, who had served as Chief of Staff, into a role within the Trump Political Operation.
