Stephen Miller pledges total devotion to Trump as incoming White House chief of staff
Stephen Miller, Donald Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff and the architect of his sweeping immigration crackdown, used his first public remarks since the appointment to pledge “total devotion” to the president, saying he begins the job on Monday. Speaking Friday evening alongside Trump, Miller declared that without him “the United States of America would not exist right now,” crediting Trump with saving the military, the economy, the border, and the country from threats that would have ended the American dream. He also claimed Trump had “saved the Republican party from the ash heap of history.”
The appointment came after this week’s US midterm elections, in which Republicans lost seven Senate seats, 42 House seats, and five governorships. As of Saturday morning, Democrats held narrow leads in uncalled Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi. Senior Republicans including JD Vance have blamed the losses on the Iran war and tariffs. Miller’s praise is likely to heighten concern that the administration will double down on a far-right, nativist immigration agenda he previously led as deputy chief of staff.
Indiana Republican Marlin Stutzman called the move a “horrible decision.” Outgoing Nebraska Republican Don Bacon told CNN Miller would have “an antagonistic relationship with many” and had “cost us seats in Texas and Arizona by alienating many Hispanic voters who voted for Trump in 2024.” Trump, who last month said there was “zero chance” he would replace Susie Wiles as chief of staff, told 60 Minutes in an interview due to air Sunday that he loves his cabinet but expects “a few changes.” Asked about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, he said he has confidence in him but stopped short of crediting him for military successes.
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