Donald Trump has appointed Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles in the most significant reshuffle of his administration since Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections.
Miller, one of the president’s longest-serving advisers and a key architect of his hardline immigration policies, is due to take up the post on Monday, November 9. Ms Wiles is expected to move to the Trump political operation.
The White House said Mr Miller’s appointment would help drive forward the president’s “America First” agenda. Mr Trump described him as a trusted adviser with a detailed understanding of Capitol Hill and the federal government.
The decision prompted a series of supportive statements from Republican lawmakers. Senator Mike Lee called Mr Miller a “true conservative warrior”, while House Majority Whip Tom Emmer thanked Ms Wiles for her service and said he looked forward to working with her successor.
Ms Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, said she was proud of her work in the administration and grateful for the opportunity to serve the president and the country.
The change comes as Mr Trump faces a newly empowered Democratic Congress and the prospect of investigations into his administration. He rejected suggestions that the appointment was a response to the election result, saying: “Not because of the election. It’s just time.”
The leadership change was announced as the United States carried out further military action in the region. US Central Command said it had disabled a St Kitts-flagged commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to leave the area after visiting an Iranian port.
The incident followed Mr Trump’s announcement of limited strikes against an Iranian air-defence system, adding to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for international shipping and oil supplies.
