Democratic lawmakers decried Stephen Miller as a “hatemonger”, a “xenophobe” and “vile” after Donald Trump appointed his most trusted adviser as White House chief of staff.
On Friday afternoon, the US president abruptly announced via his Truth Social platform that Miller – the architect of his sweeping immigration crackdown – would replace Susie Wiles, whom he confirmed had been ousted.
The announcement came just days after voters overwhelmingly elected Democrats in the US midterm elections, a sharp rebuke of Trump’s agenda that ended his Republican party’s control of US Congress.
“For Trump to promote this hatemonger shows he has learned nothing,” Dick Durbin, a Democratic senator from Illinois, wrote on X. Chuck Schumer, who is expected to become Senate majority leader, said Trump “learned nothing from his historic defeat” and “couldn’t have made a worse choice” in elevating Miller.
Hakeem Jeffries, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, who is widely expected to become the chamber’s first Black speaker, called Miller “a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands”, and demanded he be fired.
Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator from Maryland, called Trump’s decision to elevate Miller “another kick in the teeth to the American people” and “a sign of Trump’s contempt for the voters”.
Miller, who has been serving as Trump’s deputy chief of staff, has become one of the most controversial figures in the administration. An author of the rightwing Project 2025 manifesto, Miller often makes TV appearances to attack Trump’s opponents or bolster policies such as ending birthright citizenship and suggesting the US could invade Greenland.
As a policy adviser, Miller is credited as the architect of Trump’s mass deportation agenda, which Democrats pointed to in denouncing his promotion.
Gavin Newsom, the outgoing California governor, called Miller “one of the most vile thugs to ever slither into the Oval Office” and said the move was “an insult to every American who voted for change” on Tuesday.
But Trump’s Republican allies and aides celebrated the announcement. Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, called Miller a “Trump OG”, and said: “There is no bigger advocate for the Trump agenda than Stephen.”
Mike Lee, a senator from Utah, said Miller had been “a staunch defender of law and order against illegal invasions and leftist lawlessness”. Eric Schmitt, a senator from Missouri, insisted Miller was exactly what the country needed. “Our country is at a pivotal point and Stephen Miller understands exactly what is at stake,” Schmitt wrote on X.
Cabinet members including JD Vance, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and secretary of state Marco Rubio also praised Miller’s record.
Not all Republicans were pleased by the appointment, however.
Congressman Marlin Stutzman, an Indiana Republican who held his seat, argued Miller “should be fired” earlier this week amid anger over the administration’s deportation drive. Asked on Friday what he made of Trump’s choice to promote Miller instead, Stutzman told Semafor it was a “horrible decision”.
Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security during Trump’s first term, and later joined the ranks of anti-Trump Republicans, said: “I spent two years working with Stephen Miller. His appointment as White House chief of staff is among the most dangerous personnel decisions in the history of our republic. I say that without reservation.”
Asked about such criticism on Friday, the White House hailed Miller as a “key player” delivering Trump’s agenda. “He has spearheaded the administration’s crime crackdown including in DC and Memphis, record setting deregulation, unleashed American energy, dismantled drug cartels, and secured our border,” it said in a statement. “In his new role, he will continue to deliver historic successes for the American people.”
Accepting his new role, Miller thanked Trump and said he was “honored beyond words” to serve. “The mission now is more clear than ever: Fight with all of our soul to support our President and defend this magnificent Republic,” Miller wrote on X.
