Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles in a change set to take effect on November 9. The appointment comes days after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, setting up a new period of divided government for Trump’s administration.

The chief of staff oversees White House operations and helps manage the president’s staff and relations with Congress. Miller has already served as deputy chief of staff during Trump’s second term, but the promotion puts him at the centre of the daily operation as Democrats prepare to take control in January.

A close adviser moves into the top staff job

Wiles submitted her resignation on Thursday night and will move to Trump’s political operation. She was the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff and oversaw the administration’s operations during the opening years of Trump’s second term.

Miller has worked with Trump since the 2016 campaign and has been one of his principal advisers on domestic policy. He helped shape the administration’s immigration crackdown. The Daily Times reported that Miller set a target of 3,000 arrests a day.

The promotion follows an election in which Republicans lost their majorities in the House and Senate. Democrats have said they plan to investigate the administration’s policies, including Miller’s immigration work. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, said the party intended to investigate those policies.

Immigration policy is at the centre of the debate

The immigration crackdown has drawn criticism as well as support from Trump allies. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed early in the week of the midterm elections found that 36% of respondents approved of the crackdown, while 54% disapproved.

Republican lawmakers also criticised Miller’s promotion. Indiana Representative Marlin Stutzman called it a poor decision. Representative Don Bacon said Miller had harmed the administration and cost Republicans seats in the election. Vice President JD Vance, by contrast, praised Miller and said he deserved the promotion.

Hakeem Jeffries, who is set to become the next Democratic speaker of the House, called Miller reckless and extreme. The response highlights the political stakes of giving a key architect of Trump’s domestic agenda a broader role just as Democrats prepare to use their new congressional majorities to scrutinise the administration.

What the appointment may signal

A White House official described the choice as a sign that Trump did not intend to rethink his policies. That is the official’s assessment, rather than a detailed explanation from the president of why he selected Miller.

Marc Short, a former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, said the appointment offered little indication that Trump expected bipartisan legislation. Miller pledged loyalty to Trump at a conservative gathering at Mar-a-Lago on Friday evening, and later said on X that his mission was to support the president and defend the republic.

Miller is scheduled to take up the role on November 9. Whether his appointment changes the administration’s approach to Congress remains to be seen; Democratic lawmakers are preparing investigations, and the new congressional majorities are set to take office.