Donald Trump replaces chief of staff following midterm election losses

On November 6, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a significant shake-up of his senior leadership team via a post on Truth Social. He named his current deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, as the new White House chief of staff, effective Monday, November 9, 2026. Miller will replace Susie Wiles, who will be transitioning to a role within the Trump Policy Service.

The leadership change follows a major Republican defeat in the U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in the Democratic Party gaining control of the legislative branch. While analysts and media reports suggested that administration officials might face consequences for the poor electoral performance, President Trump did not explicitly link the personnel shift to the results. Instead, he praised Wiles for her service and described Miller as one of his most trusted advisors.

This appointment marks a strategic pivot for the administration as it prepares to navigate a Washington environment now dominated by a Democratic-controlled Congress. Earlier speculation regarding potential changes in the administration had also included names like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, although their potential departures were discussed for various reasons.