Trump elevates Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff, igniting bipartisan alarm
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President Donald Trump put Stephen Miller in charge of the White House chief of staff role, triggering fierce condemnation from Democratic lawmakers and uneasy, split reactions among Republicans.
President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. The move came just days after the midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of both houses of Congress, setting the stage for a deeply confrontational next chapter.
Democratic leaders condemned the appointment in unusually blunt terms. Senator Dick Durbin called Miller a “hatemonger,” while Senate Majority Leader-designate Chuck Schumer said Trump “learned nothing from his historic defeat.” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described Miller as a “dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist,” and Senator Chris Van Hollen said the decision was “another kick in the teeth to the American people.”
Republican officials responded with a mix of loyalty and praise. White House communications director Steven Cheung called Miller a “Trump OG” and said there is “no bigger advocate for the Trump agenda.” Senators Mike Lee and Eric Schmitt defended Miller as a defender of law and order and a necessary voice for the country’s challenges. Several cabinet members, including JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also voiced support.
Not all Republicans rallied behind the choice. Indiana Representative Marlin Stutzman said Miller “should be fired,” and former DHS chief of staff Miles Taylor warned that the appointment is “among the most dangerous personnel decisions in the history of our republic.”
The White House issued a statement praising Miller’s role in the administration’s crime-crackdown, deregulation, energy policies, and border security, and said he will continue to deliver “historic successes for the American people.”