Stephen Miller, one of Donald Trump's most influential advisers and the architect of his mass deportation program, has assumed the duties of White House chief of staff. According to The Guardian, he took office on Monday and replaced Susie Wiles in this post. The appointment strengthens the position of a man long regarded as one of the main ideologues of the hardline approach to immigration.
Miller is 41 years old. Before this appointment he served as deputy chief of staff, and in that capacity his influence on personnel and political decisions within the administration was notable. He is called Trump's right-hand man, and his role in developing the course toward mass deportations and tougher immigration control has been noted repeatedly. His name is associated with this direction above all.
The appointment came after Republicans suffered defeat in the nationwide midterm elections. The change in the staff leadership is taking place against the backdrop of this electoral result and at a time when the administration is setting its priorities for the remainder of the president's term. The personnel reshuffle in the key White House office is itself one of the main events being discussed in Washington.
Axios reported that Richard Walters is leaving the White House, and noted that this is the first major personnel departure during Miller's tenure leading the staff. This is an important signal for those following the internal structure of the administration, since the first decisions of a new chief of staff usually indicate the character of his management. The source does not specify how significantly Miller's powers have expanded in his new position or whether further personnel changes will follow, so these questions remain open.
The appointment has also drawn criticism. In a column published in The New York Times, Miller was compared to Roy Cohn, the well-known lawyer and adviser whose activities provoked intense controversy in American political circles. The comparison concerns the style of influence and the willingness to wage a fierce fight, but the sources do not provide detailed responses from Miller or the White House to this criticism.