Do not change the policy direction! Trump replaces White House Chief of Staff, appoints hardliner Stephen Miller

After a disastrous defeat in the midterm elections, Trump sent a clear signal to the outside world through a personnel adjustment: he has no intention of changing his policy direction.

According to Reuters, U.S. President Trump announced on Friday the appointment of longtime confidant and current Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as White House Chief of Staff, replacing Susie Wiles. This appointment will officially take effect on Monday. A White House official bluntly stated, "He will not change direction"—despite the midterm election results on Tuesday showing that tens of millions of American voters cast ballots against Trump's domestic and foreign agenda.

Miller's promotion comes after the Republican Party lost control of both chambers of Congress, with the Democrats set to dominate the House of Representatives and the Senate, and have announced plans to launch extensive congressional investigations into the Trump administration. According to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal, this personnel change is the clearest signal yet that Trump intends to continue to adhere to his core positions in the last two years of his presidency, rather than seek compromise with the Democrats.

Hardliners Take Control of the Core

Miller, 41, is one of the few core staff members who have continued from Trump's first term to the present. During Wiles' tenure as Chief of Staff, he effectively exerted influence over Trump's domestic agenda beyond his official position as Deputy Chief of Staff.

He is best known for pushing the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement actions—setting daily arrest targets at 3,000 and deploying masked immigration enforcement officers into communities across the country, with the targets increasingly expanding to include individuals with no criminal records who have lived in the U.S. for decades. However, this policy is not popular among the public. According to a poll completed by Ipsos this week, only 36% of respondents expressed support, while 54% were clearly opposed.

In other areas of domestic policy, Miller is also a key driver in reshaping the federal bureaucracy, closely linked to actions that could see tens of thousands of civil servants laid off by 2025. He is also a major force behind the government's opposition to universities, diversity programs, and other institutions.

Hardline Foreign Policy, Uncertain Congressional Relations

In terms of foreign policy, Miller is a public supporter of Trump's deadly military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, although this action has raised legal questions. He has also defended U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran and supports measures to weaken Iran through naval blockades and sanctions. However, given the economic impact of a war with Iran has cost the Republican Party in this election, his current stance remains unclear.

Marc Short, who served as Chief of Staff to Vice President Pence during Trump's first term, stated that Miller is someone "deeply tied to the president" and willing to confront Congress on issues such as immigration policy and congressional investigations. "This does not mean there are high expectations for bipartisan legislation," Short said in an interview.

Miller has served on Capitol Hill for many years, including as a senior advisor to then-Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama, which may be beneficial after the Democrats take control of Congress, but the challenges he faces will be extremely daunting.

Wiles' Departure, Business Community Loses Important Communication Channel

Wiles submitted her resignation on Thursday evening and will move to Trump's political operation. The 69-year-old veteran political strategist from Florida is the first female Chief of Staff in U.S. history, known for bringing operational discipline and regarded as a rational voice within the White House.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Wiles was not only the Chief of Staff but also the main liaison between the business community and the White House. Several prominent business executives stated that Wiles and Treasury Secretary Yellen were the two key figures they believed were willing to listen to business opinions. With Wiles' departure, the communication channel between the business community and the White House is expected to narrow significantly.

During his first term (2017-2021), Trump changed Chief of Staff four times, a number that is unusually high among past presidents. With hardliner Miller taking over, there is widespread expectation that the relationship between the White House and Congress, as well as with the business community, will become more confrontational. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has referred to Miller on social media as a "reckless extremist," while House Oversight Committee chief Democrat Robert Garcia stated that the Democrats plan to investigate Miller's immigration policies and warned him to "better get a good lawyer."

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