Stephen Miller appointed White House chief of staff amid concerns over India policy

Stephen Miller, who served as White House deputy chief of staff during President Donald Trump's second term, has been appointed chief of staff after Chief of Staff Susie Wiles announced her departure. The change comes as Republicans lost control of Congress in the recent midterm elections.

Analysts note that the election outcome has sparked debate over whether the administration's policies have eroded support among Indian-American voters, a group that had shown increasing openness to the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential campaign.

Miller has previously criticized India’s purchase of Russian crude, describing it as "not acceptable" and alleging that it helps finance Russia’s war in Ukraine. He also accused India of imposing high tariffs on U.S. goods and of exploiting the U.S. immigration system. New Delhi responded that it will continue buying Russian oil despite U.S. objections.

In his earlier role, Miller advocated for tighter immigration rules, including stricter H-1B visa requirements. He also defended the personal relationship between President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a "tremendous relationship with India."

Miller, 41, joined Trump’s 2016 campaign, later served as an adviser and speechwriter, and founded the conservative group America First Legal after the 2020 election. His wife, Katie Miller, is a conservative podcaster and former communications aide in the first Trump administration.