• Analysis
Stephen Miller chief of staff pledge: 'total devotion' to Trump in first remarks
Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's incoming White House chief of staff, used his first public remarks since the stephen miller chief of staff appointment to pledge his 'total devotion' to the president at a Friday evening event, promising 'absolute loyalty' to Trump's success and the country's.
A pledge of loyalty
Standing alongside Donald Trump at an event on Friday evening, the incoming White House chief of staff Stephen Miller delivered his first public comments since the appointment was announced, and he spent them on praise. Trump, he said, saved America, the military, the economy and the border.
- •Miller said Trump saved the military from collapse and the economy from destruction
- •He credited Trump with saving the Republican party from the ash heap of history and making it stronger, more popular and more resilient than ever before
- •Miller takes over the role on Monday, after serving as deputy chief of staff and leading the administration's hardline immigration agenda
The centerpiece of the speech was a personal promise to the president:
"my absolute loyalty, my unwavering commitment, and my total devotion to your success and the success of this country."
Internal Republican criticism
The praise did not go unchallenged inside Trump's own party. Marlin Stutzman, the Republican congressman from Indiana, described the move as a "horrible decision" in comments to Politico.
Don Bacon, the outgoing Republican congressman from Nebraska, went further, telling CNN that Miller will have an antagonistic relationship with many. "He cost us seats in Texas and Arizona by alienating many Hispanic voters who voted for Trump in 2024," Bacon said.
Midterm backdrop and next steps
Miller's ascendancy comes straight after this week's US midterm elections, in which Americans punished Trump's Republican party and Democrats won in areas they had not carried in decades. As of Saturday morning, Republicans have lost seven Senate seats, with Democrats holding narrow leads in the two uncalled races, Alaska and Mississippi. The party has also lost 42 House seats and five governor races. Senior Republicans including JD Vance have blamed the losses on the Iran war and tariffs.
Trump, in a 60 Minutes interview due to air on Sunday, said he expects to make a few cabinet changes without naming who. Asked about defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who has faced questions over his future, the president said he has confidence in him but stopped short of crediting him for what he described as military successes. Last month Trump said there was "zero chance" he would replace then chief of staff Susie Wiles.
