Republican lawmakers have reacted with anger to Donald Trump’s decision to appoint Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, accusing the immigration hardliner of helping drive voters away from the party in this week’s midterm elections.
Rep Marlin Stutzman, an Indiana Republican, described the appointment as a “horrible decision” after Mr Trump announced on Friday that Mr Miller would replace Susie Wiles.
Another House Republican, who spoke anonymously to discuss internal party concerns, said colleagues were in “utter disbelief”. A third lawmaker responded to news of the promotion with a facepalm emoji after previously calling for Mr Miller to be dismissed.
Mr Miller, 41, will take up the post on Monday, November 9, after serving as Mr Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy. He has been one of the administration’s principal architects of its aggressive immigration enforcement and deportation programme.
Republicans blame immigration strategy for election losses
The backlash follows heavy Republican losses in the November 3 elections, with Democrats set to take control of both chambers of Congress. Several Republicans have argued that the administration’s handling of immigration alienated voters, particularly Hispanic and Latino communities.
“Because of his immigration positions, I just think we ruined a lot of our goodwill with Latino voters,” Mr Stutzman said.
Another Republican lawmaker said members had repeatedly warned Mr Miller that his policies were damaging the party in traditionally safe districts, claiming businesses, donors and voters had become increasingly frustrated.
“Your immigration enforcement policies are backfiring back home, our people are mad, our businesses are mad — even in deep red districts,” the lawmaker said they had told him.
Mr Don Bacon, a retiring Republican congressman from Nebraska, said before the appointment was announced that Mr Miller had taken an immigration policy which was popular with voters and made it politically damaging through overreach.
“I think he’s greatly hurt the administration and cost us many seats on Tuesday,” Mr Bacon said. “He took an immigration policy that favoured the president 2:1 in the public, over-reached and made it 2:1 unfavourable.”
Another Republican lawmaker called Mr Miller “a megalomaniac who should have never been given the keys to the Ferrari”, while adding that he was not solely responsible for the party’s defeat.
Mr Trump, however, has defended the appointment and described Mr Miller as one of his “most trusted advisors”. Speaking to reporters, he said the change was not prompted by the election result and that Mr Miller would be “very good politically” and a “great manager”.
The president said Ms Wiles, who served as his chief of staff from the beginning of his second term, would move to the Trump Political Operation. The White House said she had done an outstanding job and praised Mr Miller as a key figure in advancing the administration’s America First agenda.
Vice-President JD Vance and other senior Republicans also welcomed the decision. Mr Vance called Mr Miller an “amazing patriot”, while House Freedom Caucus chairman Andy Harris said he had a proven record on border security, crime and conservative policy.
The appointment is expected to bring one of Mr Trump’s most forceful and loyal advisers to the centre of White House operations as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress and intensify scrutiny of the administration.
