Stephen Miller takes over as Trump’s chief of staff after Republicans’ midterm losses

Stephen Miller became White House chief of staff on 9 November, replacing Susie Wiles, days after President Donald Trump’s Republican Party lost control of Congress in the midterm elections.

Mr. Trump announced the change on 6 November and said Mr. Miller would start on 9 November. Ms. Wiles had given him her resignation the night before, AP reported, citing a person familiar with the events. She will move to Mr. Trump’s political operation, he said.

Who is Stephen Miller

Mr. Miller, who was deputy chief of staff, has been one of Mr. Trump’s closest aides for about a decade. He is widely seen as the main architect of the administration’s hard-line immigration policies, including mass deportations and limits on legal immigration.

The chief of staff runs the White House, controls who sees the President and steers the administration’s agenda.

Why it matters

Ms. Wiles was the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, and she lasted longer in the job than anyone else under Mr. Trump. NPR said the choice of Mr. Miller signals that the President is ready to confront his opponents rather than seek compromise with the Democrats, who take over both houses of Congress in January.

For India, Mr. Miller’s influence matters for students and workers on US visas. The administration has sought sharp increases in the fee for H-1B work visas, a step now being fought in the courts.

What’s next

Mr. Miller takes charge as the House votes this week on a Republican congressman’s move to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.