In a national rebuke of the Trump administration’s policies by U.S. voters, Democrats swept the midterm elections across the United States on November 3, 2026. On November 6, President Trump appointed Stephen Miller—widely seen as the architect of mass deportations and responsible for the administration’s hardline immigration crackdowns—as his new chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
Mr. Miller’s promotion was met with swift criticism from Democrats. Sen. Dick Durban (D-Ill.) said, “For Trump to promote this hatemonger shows he has learned nothing.” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said President Trump had “learned nothing from his historic defeat” and “couldn’t have made a worse choice.” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is expected to become the next Speaker of the House, said Mr. Miller is “a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands.”
Republican reaction was mixed. Some Republicans praised the promotion. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said Mr. Miller is “a staunch defender of law and order against illegal invasions and leftist lawlessness.” Others criticized it. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) said the promotion was a “horrible decision.” Miles Taylor, formerly chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security during President Trump’s first term who later became an outspoken anti-Trump Republican, said, “I spent two years working with Stephen Miller. His appointment as White House chief of staff is among the most dangerous personnel decisions in the history of our republic. I say that without reservation.”
