Trump names Stephen Miller new White House chief of staff after midterm defeat

By Chang Dong-woo

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will replace White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, three days after Republicans suffered a crushing defeat at the midterm elections.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Miller, one of his closest aides, will assume the position Monday.

"I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026," Trump wrote.

The president also announced that Wiles, who has overseen White House operations since the beginning of his second term, will move to what he called the "Trump Political Operation."

"Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation," he said. "I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff -- She has done a great job!"

The announcement came just three days after Democrats secured majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, dealing a major political setback to Trump and his Republican Party.

Miller, a longtime Trump loyalist, has been a key architect of the administration's hard-line immigration policies and has wielded considerable influence over its domestic policy agenda.

Wiles, who managed Trump's successful 2024 presidential campaign, became the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff when Trump returned to office in January 2025.

Her departure marks a key shakeup of Trump's White House leadership since the start of his second term.

Wiles had also served as a key communication channel with South Korea, establishing a direct line of communication with Kang Hoon-sik, then chief of staff to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, during bilateral trade negotiations last year.

The two held a 40-minute meeting at the White House in August 2025, ahead of the first summit between Lee and Trump, to discuss bilateral economic, trade and security issues.

Kang said at the time that he had sought to establish a direct channel with Wiles, whom he viewed as a trusted aide to Trump, to facilitate high-level communication between the two governments.

The appointment of Miller has raised the possibility of further personnel changes within the administration, although Trump has not announced any additional reshuffle plans.

odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)