Republican Senator Thom Tillis Slams Trump's Appointment of Stephen Miller

TEHRAN, Nov 7 (OPA) — Republican Senator Thom Tillis urged President Donald Trump on Friday to reconsider his decision to remove Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff and appoint senior adviser Stephen Miller to the post. Tillis argued the promotion of one of the party's most polarizing figures is a severe error coming just days after Republicans suffered significant losses in the midterm elections.

"This is a huge mistake, and it is the last thing we need 72 hours after the fallout we had on Tuesday," Tillis said in an interview with The Hill. The midterm results saw Republicans lose at least seven seats in the Senate and 42 seats in the House of Representatives. Tillis explicitly blamed Miller's hardline immigration policies, which included a controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation earlier this year in Minneapolis that left two U.S. citizens dead, for losing the messaging battle on the border.

The White House shakeup follows a disastrous electoral showing for the GOP. Trump announced on Truth Social that Miller, currently serving as deputy chief of staff, will take over as White House chief of staff effective Monday, November 9, 2026. The Hill noted that immigration policies spearheaded by Miller have faced intense scrutiny, with critics linking them directly to a drop in public support for the administration.

Tillis questioned the strategic logic behind the appointment, pointing out that even Trump acknowledged earlier in the week that the immigration push had gone too far. As the administration prepares for the transition under Miller's incoming leadership, Republican lawmakers remain divided over whether hardline tactics will salvage or further damage their legislative agenda ahead of the next congressional session.