Why is the White House chief of staff leaving? Susie Wiles stepped down as President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, the White House announced on Friday, 6 November 2026. Her exit came three days after Republicans lost control of both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections. Trump said she will move to his political operation. Stephen Miller, currently deputy chief of staff, takes over on Monday, 9 November.
No official reason was given beyond the move to a new role. But several news reports, citing unnamed sources, link the change to Trump’s frustration with the Republican midterm strategy. This page explains what happened, who Wiles and Miller are, what a chief of staff actually does, and what the change could mean for the next two years.
This page tracks the role of White House chief of staff and is updated when it changes. Last update: 7 November 2026.
White House Chief of Staff Change at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is leaving? | Susie Wiles |
| Announced | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Her next role | Trump’s political operation |
| Successor | Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff |
| Successor starts | Monday, 9 November 2026 |
| Time in office | About 22 months (from 20 January 2025) |
| Context | Republicans lost both chambers of Congress on 3 November |
What Happened: A Short Timeline
- 16 October: Trump publicly said Wiles would stay in the job for a long time, according to reports.
- 3 November: Midterm elections. Republicans lose their majorities in both the House and the Senate.
- Election night: Reports say Trump criticised his political team’s strategy at a White House reception.
- Thursday, 5 November: Wiles reportedly submits her resignation in the evening.
- Friday, 6 November: Trump announces on Truth Social that Wiles is leaving the role and names Miller as her successor. Wiles says Friday is her last day as chief of staff.
- Monday, 9 November: Miller is due to start as White House chief of staff.
Why Did Susie Wiles Leave? Official Line vs Reports
The official version
Trump praised Wiles and framed the change as a move, not a dismissal. In his post, he wrote that she “will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation”, as LiveNOW from FOX reported. Wiles thanked the president in a statement on X, called the job a great honour and said her commitment to him and his agenda would not change.
What news reports say
Several outlets, citing people familiar with the discussions, describe a more difficult background. These accounts are based on anonymous sources and have not been officially confirmed.
- Anger over the midterms: Trump was reportedly frustrated as coverage of the losses grew and blamed his team’s political strategy.
- Questions about spending: Trump reportedly asked why heavy campaign spending had not improved Republican poll numbers.
- Internal friction: Reports describe tension between Wiles and parts of Trump’s political operation, including the team around the MAGA Inc. super PAC.
- Pressure for a reset: Allies reportedly urged the president to change senior staff and take a new approach before the 2028 cycle.
Changing a chief of staff after a bad election is not unusual in Washington. A new chief signals a fresh start to Congress, donors and voters. Whether this was a resignation, a push, or a mutual decision may only become clear later.
Who Is Susie Wiles?
Susie Wiles is a veteran Florida political strategist known for working behind the scenes and rarely giving interviews. She is the daughter of the late NFL player and broadcaster Pat Summerall.
- Florida politics: She worked in Florida politics from the 1990s, including as chief of staff to the mayor of Jacksonville.
- Campaigns: She is credited with helping Rick Scott win the Florida governor’s race in 2010 and Ron DeSantis in 2018.
- Trump campaigns: She became Trump’s Florida co-chair in 2015 and played key roles in his 2016, 2020 and 2024 campaigns.
- 2024 victory: As a top manager of his 2024 campaign, she was widely credited with running a disciplined operation. Trump nicknamed her the “Ice Maiden”.
Her record in the White House
Wiles made history as the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. She is also the longest-serving chief of staff of Trump’s two terms. In his first term, Trump went through four chiefs in four years.
She was seen as a stabilising force who limited the open infighting of the first term. Late in 2025, a set of unusually candid interviews she gave to Vanity Fair drew wide attention, but Trump kept her in place at the time.
Who Is Stephen Miller, the New Chief of Staff?
Stephen Miller has worked with Trump since the 2016 campaign. In the first term, he was a senior adviser and speechwriter and became known as a key architect of the administration’s hard-line immigration policies. In the second term, he has served as deputy chief of staff and expanded his influence over domestic policy.
Supporters see Miller as one of the president’s most loyal and policy-focused aides, someone who knows how to turn priorities into executive action. Critics see him as the driving force behind the most contested immigration measures and expect a more confrontational White House. Both sides agree that he is likely to run the West Wing with a strong focus on policy rather than on political outreach.
What Does the White House Chief of Staff Do?
The chief of staff is often called the second most powerful person in the White House. The job is not in the Constitution and does not require Senate approval. The president simply chooses who fills it.
| Task | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Gatekeeper | Decides who sees the president and which papers reach the Oval Office |
| Manager | Runs a staff of several hundred people in the Executive Office |
| Policy coordinator | Makes sure departments work toward the president’s priorities |
| Negotiator | Deals with Congress, especially on budgets and major laws |
| Crisis manager | Coordinates the response when something goes wrong |
A strong chief can bring order to a chaotic White House. A weak or mistrusted one can leave the president isolated or overwhelmed.
Trump’s Chiefs of Staff Compared
| Chief of staff | Served | Approximate length |
|---|---|---|
| Reince Priebus | January 2017 – July 2017 | About 6 months |
| John Kelly | July 2017 – January 2019 | About 17 months |
| Mick Mulvaney (acting) | January 2019 – March 2020 | About 14 months |
| Mark Meadows | March 2020 – January 2021 | About 10 months |
| Susie Wiles | January 2025 – November 2026 | About 22 months |
| Stephen Miller | From November 2026 | — |
High turnover in this job is common across administrations, but Trump’s first term set a fast pace. Wiles’ longer tenure was one reason observers described the second term’s early phase as more organised.
What Changes Now?
The new chief of staff arrives at a difficult moment. From January 2027, Democrats will control both chambers of Congress. That usually means:
- More oversight: congressional committees can launch investigations and demand documents and testimony.
- Harder legislation: the president’s agenda will need Democratic votes, or will rely more on executive orders.
- Budget battles: funding deadlines can become high-stakes negotiations.
- Political repositioning: both parties start preparing for the 2028 presidential election.
Moving Wiles to the political operation suggests Trump wants an experienced strategist focused on elections, while Miller concentrates on policy inside the White House. For background on why midterms reshape Washington, read our explainer on why the midterm election is important and our guide to why some states hold different elections.
Why Presidents Replace Chiefs of Staff After Midterms
Trump is not the first president to reshuffle his team after a midterm setback. Losing Congress forces a White House to change how it works. Presidents often bring in a chief who is better suited to negotiation, oversight battles or a re-election campaign. A new face can also absorb blame for the past and signal a reset.
The reverse also happens: a chief who ran a winning campaign may be moved back to politics, where their skills are most useful. That appears to be the official logic behind Wiles’ move.
The AP’s report on Wiles’ departure gives further background on her time in office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Susie Wiles leaving the White House?
Trump said she is moving to his political operation. News reports, citing anonymous sources, link the change to his frustration over Republican losses in the November 2026 midterm elections. No official reason beyond the new role was given.
Was Susie Wiles fired?
It has not been officially described that way. Reports say she submitted her resignation, and Trump praised her work. Some accounts suggest pressure for a staff change after the midterms.
Who is the new White House chief of staff?
Stephen Miller, who has been deputy chief of staff. He is due to start on 9 November 2026.
How long did Susie Wiles serve?
About 22 months, from 20 January 2025 to 6 November 2026. That makes her the longest-serving chief of staff of Trump’s two terms.
Was Susie Wiles the first female White House chief of staff?
Yes. She was the first woman to hold the position.
Does the chief of staff need Senate approval?
No. The president appoints the White House chief of staff directly.
The Bottom Line
The White House chief of staff changed hands after a heavy midterm defeat for Republicans. Susie Wiles, the first woman in the role and Trump’s longest-serving chief, moves to his political operation, while Stephen Miller takes over the West Wing.
The official story is a reshuffle. The reported story is a reset after the midterms. With a Democratic Congress arriving in January, the new chief of staff faces two years of oversight, negotiation and preparation for 2028. We will update this page as the role changes.