United States President Donald Trump has appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as the next White House chief of staff, following Susie Wiles’ resignation after heavy Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Miller, 41, will take up the role on Monday, November 9. He has been a central figure in the administration’s hardline immigration policy and is expected to lead the White House as Democrats regain control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Wiles, 69, submitted her resignation on Thursday evening. She will move to the “Trump Political Operation” after becoming the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, having previously managed Trump’s 2024 election campaign.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said Wiles had “done a very good job”. He added: “Stephen’s been with me from the beginning. He gets it, very good politically … and he’s a very good manager. He’ll do a great job.”
Trump also told CBS News that further changes within his administration were possible.
“I love my Cabinet. I think they’re good. But I’ll be doing maybe a few changes. I don’t want to mention who,” he said.
In a statement on X, Wiles called her time working for Trump “the honor of a lifetime”. She added: “While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will.”
Her departure comes less than a month after Trump rejected speculation about her future. On October 16, he said she would remain in the role “for a long time”.
Miller thanked Wiles for her service and friendship in a post on X. He wrote: “The mission now is more clear than ever: Fight with all of our soul to support our President and defend this magnificent Republic.”
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said there was “no bigger advocate for the Trump agenda than Stephen”.
Miller previously worked as an aide to then-Senator Jeff Sessions before joining Trump’s first presidential campaign in January 2016. He has since helped drive the administration’s immigration crackdown, travel bans and wide use of executive orders.
The leadership change comes as African governments assess what a Democratic-controlled US Congress could mean for Ghana in relation to AGOA, tariffs, visas and aid.
Congressional Democrats due to take control of legislative committees in January have criticised Miller’s appointment. Representative Robert Garcia of California, who is set to chair the House Oversight Committee, said he intended to investigate Miller over US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
“Stephen Miller should lawyer up,” Garcia said.
Wiles’s resignation follows several other post-election departures at the Department of Justice. Those leaving include civil rights division chief Harmeet Dhillon, National Security Division head John Eisenberg and Florida US Attorney Jason Reding Quinones.
The same week, Washington announced plans to remove South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA duty-free access.
