President Donald Trump has announced that Stephen Miller will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. The appointment follows landslide Republican losses in the midterm elections, in which Democrats won majority control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Miller, a longtime loyalist and one of the president's most trusted advisers, is scheduled to assume the role on Monday.
Susie Wiles, the first woman to serve in the position and the president's longest-serving chief of staff, is stepping down to move into Trump's political operation. Wiles had been regarded by some as a stabilizing force in the White House. The announcement came shortly after the president indicated on 60 Minutes that he would be shaking up his team.
Miller is the architect of the administration's hardline immigration policies and mass deportation program. The 41-year-old aide has faced criticism, including for the deadly shootings of two Minneapolis protesters by ICE agents in January. His appointment suggests the administration is poised to double down on its far-right, nativist immigration agenda and take a more aggressive approach while facing a Democratic-led Congress.
In his first public remarks since the announcement, Miller pledged total devotion and unwavering commitment to the president. This staffing change represents the most significant shake-up since the midterm elections and indicates that the administration's policy agenda will likely move further to the right.