Trump expects White House team changes after Republican midterm losses

In his first public remarks after his appointment as White House chief of staff, Stephen Miller pledged his service to President Donald Trump at a Friday evening event. Miller, who begins the role Monday, stood alongside Trump and declared: “If it wasn’t for President Trump the United States of America would not exist right now.” He also said: “This man saved America. He saved our military from collapse. He saved our economy from destruction. He saved our border from annihilation. He saved our country from threats at home and abroad which would have been the end of the American dream for ever.”

Miller also praised Trump for having “saved the Republican party from the ash heap of history and has made it stronger, more popular and more resilient than ever before.” He then declared: “It is the honor of my life to be President Trump’s chief of staff, and I swear to you, and I pledge to you, Mr President, my absolute loyalty, my unwavering commitment, and my total devotion to your success and the success of this country.”

The appointment was unveiled after this week’s midterm elections. The Guardian characterized the election as Americans punishing Trump’s Republican Party and said the result had unleashed a “blue wave” through parts of the country where Democrats had not won in decades. As of Saturday morning, Republicans had lost seven seats in the Senate and 42 seats in the House of Representatives, along with five governor races. Democrats held narrow leads in the two races that had yet to be called, Alaska and Mississippi.

Senior Republicans, including JD Vance, have blamed the losses on the Iran war and tariffs, which The Guardian described as key pillars of Trump’s agenda.

The Guardian described Miller as Trump’s “most controversial aide and the architect of his sweeping immigration crackdown.” The outlet said the administration was poised to double down on a “far-right, nativist” immigration agenda and that Miller’s speech was likely to add to concerns that the administration would continue pursuing the hardline immigration agenda he had led as deputy chief of staff.

The Guardian reported that Miller’s appointment had met with dismay from Democrats and some Republicans. Marlin Stutzman, the Republican congressman from Indiana, called the appointment a “horrible decision” in comments to Politico. Don Bacon, the outgoing Republican congressman from Nebraska, predicted that Miller would “have an antagonistic relationship with many.” He told CNN: “He cost us seats in Texas and Arizona by alienating many Hispanic voters who voted for Trump in 2024.”

Miller’s appointment was announced as Trump said he expected to make “a few changes” to his team. In a 60 Minutes interview due to air on Sunday, Trump said: “I love my cabinet. I think they’re good. But I’ll do – be doing maybe a few changes. I don’t want to mention who.”

Asked whether he had confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose future had drawn questions as the scale of the Republican losses became clear, Trump said “I do” but stopped short of crediting Hegseth for what the president described as military successes.

Last month, after reports that he might replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, Trump said there was “zero chance” he would replace her, speaking to reporters.

An accompanying photograph showed Stephen Miller outside the White House on 6 November 2026; the credit was Mark Schiefelbein/AP.