Trump Appoints Hardline Immigration Policy Architect Stephen Miller as White House Chief of Staff

U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to press ahead with his hardline political course despite the setback suffered by his Republican Party in the midterm elections, appointing his close adviser Stephen Miller as White House Chief of Staff. Miller succeeds Susie Wiles in this influential post, at a time when the president is preparing to face a Congress now under Democratic control and an increase in congressional investigations targeting him.

Architect of Strict Immigration Policies

Stephen Miller (41) is considered one of the most prominent hawks in the U.S. administration and one of Trump's most loyal and influential advisers since his first term. He is the actual architect of the strictest immigration and asylum policies since Trump returned to power in 2025. Miller had set a target for immigration enforcement agencies to reach 3,000 arrests per day, leading masked agents to pursue and detain immigrants with no criminal records who have lived in the country for decades.

These policies face widespread public disapproval in the United States; a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that only 36% support these strict security campaigns, compared to 54% who oppose them. Prominent Democratic Representative Robert Garcia also announced that his congressional committee will launch an extensive investigation into violations of the immigration policy spearheaded by Miller, explicitly advising him to retain legal counsel to defend himself.

A Confrontational Approach in Washington

Despite Trump's pro forma expression of willingness to cooperate with Democrats after losing the majority, the promotion of Miller—known for his sharp demeanor and uncompromising stance—reflects a clear desire to pivot toward an aggressive strategy to impose the domestic agenda relying on executive orders and authorities. Following his appointment, Miller wrote on the X platform: "The mission is clearer than ever: let us fight with all our might to support our President and defend our great Republic," while incoming House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries described him as an "irresponsible extremist."

Alongside the immigration portfolio, Miller led a campaign to purge the federal bureaucracy that resulted in the dismissal of tens of thousands of employees in 2025. He also waged fierce campaigns against universities and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, in addition to supporting military strikes and a hawkish foreign policy, including the imposition of blockades and tightened sanctions.

Changes in the Presidential Team

This reshuffle follows the resignation of Susie Wiles (69), the first woman to serve as White House Chief of Staff, who had largely succeeded in instilling discipline within the presidential team, to transition to working within Trump's political operation. Miller is scheduled to officially assume his duties early next week, opening the door to an era of direct confrontation over asylum and immigration issues across the American political landscape.