Allies of Susie Wiles have reacted angrily to President Donald Trump’s decision to remove her as White House chief of staff and elevate hardline adviser Stephen Miller to the post following Republicans’ painful midterm setbacks.
Trump said Friday that Miller would assume the influential role on Monday, while Wiles would transition to the Trump Political Operation.
Our News Outlet first reported in June that Wiles was expected to leave the chief of staff position, a report she strongly rejected at the time.
She dismissed the story as “Friday fiction” and declared that she was “not going anywhere.”
The change comes days after Democrats posted significant midterm gains, intensifying Republican debate over the party’s campaign strategy and accountability for the losses.
Trump praised Wiles, saying she had performed an “outstanding job” and had been a highly effective chief of staff.
In a post on X, Wiles thanked Trump for giving her the opportunity to serve, calling it “the honor of a lifetime.”
She also congratulated Miller and expressed confidence that he would continue pushing forward with Trump’s agenda.
President Trump praised White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, saying she delivered an “outstanding job” and had performed “a great job” in the role
Fox News anchor Bret Baier said Trump’s decision to install Stephen Miller suggests the president is “girding for a battle” after the Republican midterm losses
Indiana Representative Marlin Stutzman had reportedly urged Miller’s dismissal after Tuesday’s election losses and called Trump’s decision to promote him chief of staff a “horrible decision”
The announcement has nevertheless triggered widespread criticism, with support coming largely from inside Trump’s administration and his closest political circle.
As the November 19 leadership elections draw closer, expected House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries quickly targeted Miller with a series of severe accusations and personal attacks.
“Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands,” Jeffries wrote on X.
“His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today.”
Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene argued that Wiles’ assignment to Trump’s political operation, which oversees campaign efforts, would leave Republicans with virtually no chance of winning the 2028 presidential election.
Fox News anchor Bret Baier said Miller’s appointment indicates that Trump is preparing for a fight after Republicans’ midterm performance.
Baier added that Wiles had privately expected the possibility of a post-election shake-up. He said Miller’s role in shaping immigration and deportation policy also highlights the administration’s priorities for the next two years.
David Axelrod, the Democratic strategist and former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, also condemned the move.
“Few did more to contribute to the debacle the GOP just endured than Stephen Miller. The backlash to his brutal ICE raids and nativist rants can be seen in returns all over the country. And for that, he’s promoted?” Axelrod wrote.
Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said placing Wiles in Trump’s campaign operation would leave Republicans with a 0 percent chance of winning the 2028 presidential election
Our News Outlet reported in June that Wiles was expected to leave her post, a claim she forcefully denied by saying she was “not going anywhere”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Wiles for serving with “exceptional strength, devotion, and grace,” and said she had done an “incredible job” for Trump
Semafor reporter Nicholas Wu said on X that Indiana Representative Marlin Stutzman had been pushing for Miller to be fired since Tuesday’s election results. Wu quoted Stutzman as describing Miller’s promotion to chief of staff as a “horrible decision.”
Rubio, by contrast, offered a warm tribute to Wiles, saying she had served the country with “exceptional strength, devotion, and grace” and had done an “incredible job” working for Trump.
He thanked Wiles for her service and friendship, wished her well in the next stage of her career and welcomed Miller’s promotion.
Rubio called Miller one of Trump’s “most trusted and longtime advisors” and said he looked forward to working with him to advance the president’s agenda.
Vice President JD Vance also thanked Wiles for her friendship and service to Trump and the country.
Vance described Miller as an “amazing patriot,” congratulated him on a “well deserved promotion” and said he expected him to accomplish “great things” in the powerful position.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered a brief assessment of the transition: “Patriots in control.”
Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt came to Wiles’ defense, calling her one of the “kindest and toughest” people she had ever known.
Leavitt, who described Wiles as both a friend and former boss, noted that she was the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. She also credited Wiles with leading what she called the most productive start to a presidency in decades while undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
At the same time, Leavitt endorsed Miller as the “perfect choice” to replace Wiles, praising his loyalty and dedication to Trump’s America First movement.
She said she had “complete confidence” that Miller would help make the final two years of Trump’s term successful and urged Republicans not to “fall into despair” or surrender the country to Democrats.
Conservative attorney and Trump ally Mike Davis also praised Wiles, saying she had served Trump “extremely effectively” for years and helped orchestrate his return after 2020, which Davis called “the best-ever comeback in American history.”
Davis said Miller was “the perfect man for the moment” and suited to serve as Trump’s “wartime general.”
Wiles has also faced questions about her family’s business connections to a pro-Russian government in the Balkans, including possible conflicts involving her daughter, Katie Wiles.
Katie Wiles, a partner at Washington lobbying firm Continental Strategy, traveled to Republika Srpska in August. During the trip, she was photographed holding a rifle beside the region’s interior minister, Željko Budimir, who is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The scrutiny intensified when it emerged that Continental Strategy had registered to lobby for Republika Srpska.
In September, Susie Wiles met at the White House with another senior political figure from the region, Željka Cvijanović.
The White House has denied that Wiles discussed her daughter’s business activities or used her official position to promote the firm’s interests.
