WASHINGTON — It’s Miller time — and the gloves are off!
President Trump pulled out his bulldog Stephen Miller as he prepares for an epic fight with Democrats following Tuesday’s blue tsunami — announcing Miller as his new chief of staff in anticipation of a showdown with Capitol Hill.
Miller, 41, is the architect of Trump’s hardline immigration policies and will be Trump’s top general fighting back against investigations 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.
The elevation of Miller was widely viewed as Trump doubling down on his America First agenda and arming up for battles ahead with Democrats promising sprawling inquiries.
“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 replaces Susie Wiles, who stepped down Friday, taking the fall for Republicans’ brutal defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
He served as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser since Trump’s return to the White House and was a senior adviser and top speechwriter in his first term.
“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 alongside 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 received an outpouring of support from high-profile administration officials, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. writing: “Next to me, Stephen Miller is the strongest MAHA supporter in the administration. It’s time to unleash the Kraken.”
But Miller, whose strident personality is a sharp break from Wiles’ more modest demeanor, drew immediate condemnation from Democrats and qualms from some fellow Republicans.
“Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands,” tweeted top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
“His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today.”
Miller has had a broad portfolio during Trump’s second term, but he’s best-known for pushing for accelerated deportations of illegal immigrants, which the president vowed to do during his 2024 comeback campaign.
Although polls showed most Hispanic voters supported mass deportations in the abstract in 2024 and voted for Trump in droves, the community recoiled at anecdotal cases, with Republicans shedding Hispanic support in the midterms, dashing GOP hopes for a lasting realignment.
“Miller as COS? Full Gestapo it is,” said a prominent Republican consultant, describing Miller, who is Jewish, as a “good guy” who would nonetheless bring an “iron fist” to management and policy.
“Hispanic voters were already heading for the exits,” this person added. “Nice of us to hold the door.”
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), who will serve in the much-reduced Republican caucus next year, called for Miller to be fired after the election and told Semafor his elevation was a “horrible decision.”
Some Republican blowback was hardly a surprise.
Asked in September what Republicans could do to regain Hispanic support, 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, filmed a campaign video in front of the White House denouncing the deportations, urging 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 pulled back on hardline immigration policies, including during his first term in 2018, when he imposed and then backed off a Miller-backed “zero tolerance” family separation policy for illegal border crossings.
Defenders of the current immigration crackdown argue it has benefitted US citizens with wage gains since Trump returned to power.
Katie Zacharia, who served five days as White House press secretary last month, cheered on Miller’s promotion.
“Time to ramp up the deportations,” she tweeted.
“Patriots in control,” added Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
