Trump sacks Susie Wiles after midterm rout, picks Stephen Miller as chief of staff

Miller has been a central figure in Trump's political circle since the President's first campaign for the White House in 2016, when he joined as a speechwriter. Over the years, he has emerged as one of the most influential voices in Trump's inner circle, particularly on immigration and national security.US President Donald Trump, Susie Wiles and Stephen Miller (Reuters, AFP)US President Donald Trump has replaced White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with his longtime aide Stephen Miller, days after Republicans suffered a sweeping defeat in the midterm elections, losing control of both chambers of Congress.Trump announced the decision on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, praising Wiles for her work in the administration and confirming that Miller would take over the influential position.Wiles, who became the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, will continue working with Trump's political organisation, the President said. Her departure comes just days after Democrats secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, delivering a major setback to Trump's Republican Party midway through his second term.Miller, currently serving as White House deputy chief of staff, is among Trump's closest and longest-serving advisers. He has played a central role in shaping the administration's immigration agenda and is widely regarded as one of the key architects of Trump's hardline policies on border security and deportations. REPUBLICANS SUFFER SWEEPING MIDTERM DEFEATThe leadership change comes in the aftermath of the November 3 midterm elections, in which Democrats made significant gains across the country, flipping Republican-held seats and ending the party's control of both chambers of Congress.The results marked a sharp political setback for Trump, whose party had entered the elections with narrow majorities in the House and Senate. Democrats capitalised on voter dissatisfaction with the administration, particularly over the rising cost of living, the economic impact of tariffs and the unpopular US war with Iran. Several traditionally Republican-leaning states also witnessed significant swings towards Democrats. Kansas elected its first Democratic senator in nearly a century, while Democrats defeated Trump's hand-picked Senate candidate in South Carolina, a state the President had won comfortably in the 2024 presidential election.The losses are expected to complicate Trump's legislative agenda for the remaining two years of his presidency, with Democrats set to gain control of congressional committees and greater powers to investigate his administration.WHO ARE STEPHEN MILLER AND SUSIE WILES?Miller has been a central figure in Trump's political circle since the President's first campaign for the White House in 2016, when he joined as a speechwriter. Over the years, he has emerged as one of the most influential voices in Trump's inner circle, particularly on immigration and national security.Wiles, meanwhile, was widely credited with bringing discipline and organisational control to Trump's political operations. She joined his team during the 2016 presidential campaign, managed his Florida campaign in 2020 and oversaw his nationwide campaign in 2024.She was appointed White House chief of staff at the beginning of Trump's second term and became his longest-serving chief of staff. Trump had gone through four people in the position during his first presidency.Her exit also comes months after she publicly disclosed an early-stage breast cancer diagnosis in March 2026. Following surgery and treatment, she announced in September that she no longer showed evidence of the disease.Wiles said in a statement following Trump's announcement that serving in the White House had been the honour of a lifetime and reaffirmed her commitment to the President and his political mission.- Ends