Key facts
- Miller, 41, previously served as a deputy chief of staff under Trump.
- Trump announced Miller's promotion on Truth Social on November 6, replacing Susie Wiles.
- Democrats criticized Trump for elevating Miller after the midterm elections.
- Trump told CBS's 60 Minutes his mass deportation policy was "too tough."
- Richard Walters, a deputy chief of staff, announced he would leave the administration.
- Trump said he offered Dana White the press secretary role, then claimed he was "only kidding".
Stephen Miller, the architect of Donald Trump's mass deportation policy and hardline immigration crackdown, took up his role as White House chief of staff on November 9. Miller, 41, had been serving as a deputy chief of staff and becomes Trump's top aide after Republicans lost seats nationwide in the midterm elections.
Trump announced the move on Truth Social on November 6, saying Miller would replace Susie Wiles. The announcement surprised many because administration members had denied reports that Wiles was leaving. In recent weeks, several senior women in the administration stepped down, including Harmeet Dhillon, a top Justice Department official, and Katie Zacharia, who spent five days as press secretary after replacing Karoline Leavitt.
Democrats criticized Trump for elevating Miller, arguing he was ignoring voters' message after the midterms. Trump himself told CBS's 60 Minutes that his mass deportation policy was "too tough," saying "I think it was too tough. I think it might be too tough, yeah." He nonetheless promoted Miller, the policy's principal architect.
More staffing changes could follow. Richard Walters, a deputy chief of staff and close Wiles ally, said he would leave the administration. Trump said over the weekend he had offered the White House press secretary job to Dana White, head of Ultimate Fighting Championship, then said he was "only kidding"; the two were due to meet on November 9.