Trump appoints hardliner Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff after Republican election setback

<img src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/1280x960/greater-kashmir/media/media_files/2026/11/08/trump-appoints-hardliner-stephen-miller-as-white-house-chief-of-staff-2026-11-08-07-49-05.png" /><p class="p4">New Delhi, Nov 7:&amp;nbsp;US President Donald Trump has appointed his longtime adviser and hardline political operative Stephen Miller as the new White House chief of staff, signalling a tougher political approach following the Republican Party&amp;rsquo;s sweeping defeat in Tuesday&amp;rsquo;s midterm elections, the BBC reported.</p> <p class="p7">The appointment on Friday comes just days after Trump said he was willing to work with the newly strengthened Democrats in Congress following the Republican setback.</p> <p class="p7">Miller will replace Susie Wiles, who played a key role in managing Trump&amp;rsquo;s successful 2024 presidential election campaign and was widely regarded as a steadying influence in his administration.</p> <p class="p7">The BBC said Miller&amp;rsquo;s elevation, rather than indicating a willingness to compromise with Democrats, could suggest that Trump is preparing for political battles by placing a staunch loyalist in one of the most powerful positions in Washington.</p> <p class="p7">&amp;ldquo;The mission now is more clear than ever: Fight with all of our soul to support our president and defend this magnificent republic,&amp;rdquo; Miller wrote on X, describing his appointment as an honour.</p> <p class="p7">Announcing the decision, Trump said Miller had been with him from the beginning of his political journey. &amp;ldquo;He gets it,&amp;rdquo; the President told reporters.</p> <p class="p7">The White House chief of staff controls access to the President, helps set the administration&amp;rsquo;s agenda and plays a crucial role in negotiations with Congress and other political stakeholders.</p> <p class="p7">Miller is best known as the principal architect of Trump&amp;rsquo;s aggressive immigration policies, including expanded enforcement operations and increased funding for deportations.</p> <p class="p7">He also attracted criticism after describing Alex Pretti, who was shot dead by federal immigration officials during a major deportation operation in Minneapolis, as a &amp;ldquo;domestic terrorist&amp;rdquo; and an &amp;ldquo;assassin&amp;rdquo;. Miller later softened his remarks, acknowledging that federal agents might not have followed proper procedures.</p> <p class="p7">According to the BBC, Miller has also reportedly played a leading role in US military operations in Venezuela and against suspected drug-trafficking operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which critics have condemned as unlawful killings.</p> <p class="p7">Miller joined Trump&amp;rsquo;s political campaign in 2016 as a strategist and became known for his fiery speeches at campaign rallies. He was among the few senior officials who remained with Trump throughout his first presidential term and continued to support him after his defeat in the 2020 election.</p> <p class="p7">He returned to the White House in Trump&amp;rsquo;s second term as deputy chief of staff for policy.</p> <p class="p7">Wiles, meanwhile, had earned a reputation for professionalism and for avoiding the internal conflicts, frequent staff changes and policy reversals that marked Trump&amp;rsquo;s first term.</p> <p class="p8">However, Trump reportedly became increasingly dissatisfied with her in recent months as his political standing weakened, culminating in the Republican defeat in Tuesday&amp;rsquo;s elections. He was also said to be unhappy over reports that people close to Wiles were securing lucrative consulting assignments through their links to the President. Miller&amp;rsquo;s appointment is likely to strengthen the influence of hardliners within the administration as Trump faces a more assertive Democratic opposition in Congress.</p>