Stephen Miller Replaces Wiles: Trump’s Plan to Govern Without Congress
President Donald Trump has named Stephen Miller as his new White House chief of staff. The announcement came on November 6, Friday, just days after Republicans suffered heavy losses in the midterm elections. Miller takes over from Susie Wiles on Monday, after she submitted her resignation on Thursday night. Wiles, 69, was the first woman to hold the job and will now join Trump’s political operation. Her exit leaves open the question of who will bring the same discipline to the West Wing.
The timing makes the choice hard to ignore. Earlier this week, Trump signaled he was willing to work with Democrats on Capitol Hill. However, one White House official insisted the appointment shows Trump is not changing course. Stephen Miller, 41, is among the few aides who have served in both of Trump’s terms. As deputy chief of staff, he drove the immigration crackdown and its goal of 3,000 daily arrests.
Miller, Vought and Trump v. Slaughter Fuel a Plan to Bypass Congress
Miller has not arrived in the role empty handed. Since April, he and Budget Director Russell Vought have mapped executive actions with White House lawyers. The ideas cover immigration, tariffs, housing costs and federal spending, none of which would need new legislation. That groundwork matters because Democrats are set to take control of Congress in January. Legislating will become harder, while Democratic lawmakers will also gain the power to open investigations.
Trump has already pointed to the legal route he intends to use. In June, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Slaughter that he may fire an FTC commissioner. The ruling widened his authority over certain federal officials and anchored his plan to govern by executive action. He has also promised to veto bills from the Democratic Congress until its leaders negotiate. Some House Republicans have voiced unease, with one saying the worry about executive overreach is two years old.
Democratic Subpoenas and Weak Polling Threaten Miller’s Hardline Approach
Republicans are far from united on Miller as well. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who retires at year’s end, has openly criticized his proposals. In contrast, Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have celebrated the promotion. Marc Short, a former chief of staff to Mike Pence, expects little appetite for bipartisan lawmaking. Trump also went through four chiefs of staff in his first term, an unusually high number. Miller will face an opposition that is eager to confront him directly. Hakeem Jeffries, set to become House speaker, branded him a reckless extremist.
Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, plans to investigate Miller’s immigration policies. Public opinion offers him little cover on his signature issue. A recent poll found 36% approve of the crackdown, while 54% disapprove. Ultimately, Miller’s promotion shows a president preparing for a fight rather than a truce with Congress. The strategy leans on executive power, court rulings and vetoes instead of legislative compromise. Its success will depend on how courts, Democratic investigators and voters respond in the coming months. For now, the White House has placed its bet on its most committed enforcer.