WASHINGTON — The gloves are coming off as President Trump prepares for a major confrontation with Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Trump has elevated his political bulldog, Stephen Miller, naming him chief of staff after Tuesday’s blue tsunami. The move signals that the president expects an intense battle with Democrats in Congress.
At 41, Miller is the architect of Trump’s hardline immigration agenda. He is now positioned as the administration’s chief strategist in responding to investigations expected from the Democrat-led House and Senate.
“The mission now is more clear than ever: Fight with all of our soul to support our President and defend this magnificent Republic,” Miller said Friday.
Miller’s promotion was broadly interpreted as a renewed commitment to Trump’s America First agenda — and a sign that the White House is preparing for sustained clashes with Democrats over the next two years.
“I don’t think there could be any choice that sends a better message to our fractured base than Miller,” said a source close to the White House.
“He understands our coalition and is the choice best equipped to help rebuild it as we spend the next two years in a constant war with the Democrat-controlled Congress.”
Miller succeeds Susie Wiles, who resigned Friday after Republicans suffered a bruising defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
He has served as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser since Trump returned to the White House. During Trump’s first term, Miller was a senior adviser and leading speechwriter.
“Many people know Stephen for his fierce loyalty to the president, but more than that, he is the administration’s most organized and competent operator,” said Taylor Budowich, a former deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel who worked with Miller in the West Wing.
“He has built and managed one of the most effective policy teams in American history. He was born to be Donald Trump’s chief of staff.”
Miller also received strong backing from prominent administration officials. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote: “Next to me, Stephen Miller is the strongest MAHA supporter in the administration. It’s time to unleash the Kraken.”
Yet Miller’s forceful style — a stark contrast to Wiles’ more understated approach — immediately drew criticism from Democrats and concern among some Republicans.
“Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands,” top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) posted on X.
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“His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today.”
Miller has held a wide-ranging portfolio during Trump’s second term, but he is best known for advocating faster deportations of unauthorized immigrants — a central promise of Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign.
While 2024 polling indicated that many Hispanic voters supported mass deportations in principle and backed Trump in large numbers, anecdotal deportation cases triggered a backlash in the community. Republicans subsequently lost Hispanic support in the midterm elections, undermining hopes of a lasting political realignment.
“Miller as COS? Full Gestapo it is,” said a prominent Republican consultant, who described the Jewish adviser as a “good guy” but warned that he would bring an “iron fist” to management and policymaking.
“Hispanic voters were already heading for the exits,” the consultant added. “Nice of us to hold the door.”
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), who will serve in the significantly smaller Republican caucus next year, called for Miller’s dismissal after the election. He told Semafor that Miller’s promotion was a “horrible decision.”
Some Republican opposition to the appointment was expected.
In September, when asked what Republicans could do to win back Hispanic voters, Latinas for Trump founder Ileana Garcia, a Florida state senator, told The Post: “Fire Stephen Miller!”
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), who leads in vote tabulations for re-election, recorded a campaign video outside the White House criticizing the deportations. She urged Trump to “be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy; The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed.”
Trump has periodically softened his immigration policies. During his first term, for example, he introduced and later abandoned a Miller-backed “zero tolerance” policy that separated families detained after illegally crossing the border in 2018.
Supporters of the administration’s current immigration crackdown argue that it has helped American workers by contributing to wage gains since Trump returned to office.
Katie Zacharia, who served for five days as White House press secretary last month, celebrated Miller’s appointment.
“Time to ramp up the deportations,” she wrote on X.
“Patriots in control,” added Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.