Trump names Stephen Miller, the "architect" of his hardline immigration policy, as the new White House chief of staff

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Stephen Miller has been one of Trump's most loyal allies since his first presidency. Author, Leire VentasAuthor's title, BBC News Mundo Correspondent in Los AngelesPublication date 6 November 2026, 19:50 GMTUpdated 3 minutes agoReading time: 6 min President Donald Trump announced this Friday that Stephen Miller, considered the architect of his aggressive immigration policy, will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. In a message shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump described him as his "most loyal and trusted ally." And in remarks to reporters before departing Washington for Florida, the president explained that he made the decision because "sometimes in life you have to make changes." The news comes after Republicans suffered a series of major defeats in Tuesday's midterm elections, which led to the loss of control of both chambers of Congress and of some key governorships. Analysts agree that the results are in part a reflection of voters' frustration over the unfulfilled promise of improvement in the economy and their discontent with the federal government's immigration policy. Loyal to Trump and one of his closest allies, Miller supported the president after his defeat in the 2020 elections and has been, during his second term, the architect of some of his most controversial immigration and deportation policies. As soon as his appointment was announced, Miller praised Trump on X as "the most transformative political leader in the history of the United States," who "has single-handedly saved the country from those who would have destroyed it." "The mission now is clearer than ever," he added in the message shared on the social network. "To fight with all our soul to support our president and defend this magnificent Republic." Trump said this week that he was willing to work with the Democrats on Capitol Hill. Skip Most read and continue readingMost readEnd of Most read However, Miller's rise, known for his biting and inflexible style, could signal a more confrontational approach and a renewed push to keep advancing the president's agenda on immigration and other domestic policy matters, several White House officials told Reuters. Criticism of the appointment has not been long in coming. The leader of the Democrats in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, promised to strongly oppose the new chief of staff. "Stephen Miller is the architect of the most barbaric and inhumane policies of this administration. Trump could not have made a worse choice. Our Democratic majorities will confront him at every step of the way," Schumer posted on X. Meanwhile, Hakeem Jeffries, who will become the new Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Democratic Party, responded to the announcement by calling Miller a "reckless extremist" in a post on X. The chief of staff usually wields great influence, as they serve as the main filter for access to the president. The person in that role directs the White House staff, organizes the president's time and schedule, and oversees coordination with other government departments and with lawmakers. They also usually play a key role in setting priorities, managing the government internally, and controlling access to the president, which makes them one of the most powerful figures in any presidential administration. Miller's rise to power Born in 1985 into a Jewish family in Santa Monica, California, Miller showed a marked interest in politics from a very young age, influenced by figures and media with conservative positions. At 16, he wrote a letter to a local newspaper criticizing the lack of patriotism at his high school, positioning himself as a conservative activist who, among other things, demanded that Latino students speak only English in class. His political training was consolidated at Duke University, where he graduated in Political Science in 2007 and was involved in an episode that, according to experts, gave an early boost to his career. Miller positioned himself as a defender of a group of players from the university lacrosse team accused of rape who were ultimately proven innocent, in a case that achieved a certain degree of media prominence. It was during this period that he began to associate with controversial figures such as Richard Spencer, a well-known white supremacist, although the Republican adviser denied having a close relationship with him. After graduating, he worked as a communications adviser for Republican congressmen and in 2009 went to work for then-Senator Jeff Sessions, known for his hardline stances on immigration. Under Sessions' tutelage, Miller played a key role in the opposition to the bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2013, consolidating his reputation as an opponent of open border policies. In 2016, he joined Donald Trump's presidential campaign as a policy adviser and speechwriter. Image source, EPA/Shutterstock Miller is credited with the nationalist and anti-immigration tone of Trump's addresses, such as the 2017 inaugural speech, as well as the design of two of the most controversial measures of his first administration: the immigration ban on Muslim-majority countries and the separation of families of irregular migrants. According to Politico, it was his ability to interpret and amplify Trump's vision that consolidated him as an indispensable figure within his first administration between 2017 and 2021. His wife, Katie Miller, is a conservative podcaster and former communications assistant in Trump's first administration. Since then, Miller has been known for his radical approach to immigration and his ability to turn extreme ideas into concrete policies. For his second term, Donald Trump entrusted him with broader power over the immigration agenda by making him the main decision-maker alongside the "border czar," Tom Homan. Miller is best known for having driven, from his position as deputy director of policy and homeland security adviser, the offensive against immigration during Trump's second term, setting a target of 3,000 arrests per day, a figure far higher than the levels recorded under previous administrations. Beyond the enforcement of immigration laws, Miller has been a staunch advocate of ending the right to birthright citizenship in the US. Along those lines, he criticized the Supreme Court ruling rejecting the proposal, calling it "one of the most destructive and outrageous decisions" in its history. He has also been a prominent voice in many of the president's other priorities, including opposition to diversity initiatives and the restriction of the rights of transgender people. He has likewise embraced Trump's rhetoric about the war with Iran. In the first weeks of the conflict, he claimed that US and Israeli attacks had eliminated Tehran's leadership and destroyed its military capabilities. Later, he praised the ceasefire and declared on Fox News, in July, that some Iranian officials are "desperate" to reach a peace deal. Miller has also advocated an aggressive foreign policy in other areas. Replacement for the powerful Wiles In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that Wiles did an "outstanding" job and that she will become part of "Trump's political operation." In a statement, Wiles expressed that being part of Trump's team has been "the honor of a lifetime." "I am very proud to have participated in everything we have accomplished together, from securing our border and cutting taxes to strengthening our economy and putting the US above all," she said. Image source, ReutersImage caption, Trump said that Wiles did an "outstanding" job and that she will become part of "Trump's political operation." "Although my role will change, my commitment to the president and our mission never will." Wiles, 69, is considered one of the most powerful figures in Trump's administration and someone especially close to the president. When asked earlier this month whether Wiles could soon be replaced, Trump responded that there was "zero chance." "Susie is here and she is going to be here for a long time," he emphasized. Wiles recently battled cancer and announced in September, six months after her diagnosis, that the disease was in remission. 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