Trump picks Stephen Miller as chief of staff after midterm defeat

US President Donald Trump don choose Stephen Miller, im deputy chief of staff and di person wey dey push im tough immigration stance, to run di White House staff from Monday, November 9, 2026.

Trump make di announcement on Friday on im Truth Social platform. He say Miller na one of im most trusted advisers and thank Susie Wiles, di outgoing chief of staff, for wetin he call outstanding job.

Wiles go move to di president political operation. According to CBS News, di BBC media partner, she hand in her resignation on Thursday night, and three sources talk say her exit dey tied to di Republican Party losses in di November 3 midterm elections.

For those elections, Democrats win majorities in both di House of Representatives and di Senate. Dat give dem power to scrutinise di administration, block parts of Trump legislative plans and challenge im priorities in di last two years of im term.

Who be Stephen Miller?

Miller don work closely with Trump since di 2016 campaign, when he write speeches. He be senior policy adviser in Trump first term and come back to di White House in January 2025 as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser.

He dey closely associated with di 2018 policy wey separate thousands of migrant families at di US-Mexico border. He also stay loyal to Trump after di 2020 election defeat.

Wiles, 69, be di first woman to hold di chief of staff job, appointed when Trump start im second term in January 2025. She run im 2024 campaign and dem credit am with bringing more discipline to im operations. She talk in September say her cancer dey in remission, six months after her diagnosis.

Her exit come despite Trump talk last month say there be "zero chance" she go be replaced soon. "Susie dey here and she go dey here for a long time," he talk at di time.

For her own statement, Wiles call her time in di administration "the honor of a lifetime" and talk say her commitment to di president no go change.

Other officials don also leave since di midterms, including Justice Department figures John Eisenberg and Jason Reding Quiñones, according to CBS. E no clear whether Wiles deputies go keep their jobs.

Reaction in Washington

Democrats criticise di appointment. Congressman Robert Garcia, wey dem expect to lead di House Oversight Committee when Democrats take control, talk say he go keep investigating Miller. He accuse di administration of doubling down after voters reject its agenda — na allegation, not finding of any court.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defend di choice, talk say nobody advocate harder for di Trump agenda and say Miller go help deliver victories for di rest of di term.

Wetin happen next

Miller take over on Monday, November 9. With Democrats controlling Congress, di White House face tougher scrutiny of its immigration plans and other policies, and di new chief of staff go dey at di centre of that fight.