With Stephen Miller at the helm, Trump charts a course for conflict

By Jarrett Renshaw, David Morgan and Andy Sullivan

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida/WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s decision to elevate loyalist Stephen Miller to run his White House indicates that he plans to ramp up confrontation in his final two years in office and block outside political and economic pressures, Trump administration officials and other Republicans say.

Voters delivered a historic rebuke to Republicans in Tuesday’s midterm election, but with Miller as White House chief of staff, the Trump administration is expected to continue its aggressive immigration crackdown, amplify cultural conflicts and give no ground to a Democratic-controlled Congress, say officials and experts who spoke to Reuters. They say wavering Republicans will face increased pressure to stay in line, while businesses may have a harder time making their case to the White House.

“This signals the administration is going to have a fighting-from-a-bunker approach the last two years,” said Dan Eberhart, a Trump donor and energy executive.

Although Trump has said he can work with Democrats, he has shown a feisty approach since the midterm election results became clear. 

On Saturday he ordered the Justice Department to “look into” Democrats whom he accused of sending “threatening letters” to Republican donors and other Trump allies. The president also offered the job of White House press secretary to combat sports promoter Dana White.  

‘THIS MAN SAVED AMERICA’

Miller, 41, marks a sharp contrast with outgoing chief of staff Susie Wiles, a former lobbyist who ran Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Wiles lacked significant Washington experience but was seen as a deft manager of competing interests. Miller, by contrast, is regarded by allies and foes alike as a combative ideologue with a deep knowledge of the levers of power and an unswerving loyalty to Trump.

“If it wasn’t for President Trump, the United States of America would not exist right now. This man saved America,” Miller said at an event at Trump’s Florida estate on Friday.

Miller joined Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016 and served throughout his two terms in the White House. He is best known for driving Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown, which has galvanized Trump’s supporters but alienated many voters.

Only 37% approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, according to an October Reuters/Ipsos poll, down from 50% when he took office.

Still, four US immigration officials told Reuters that there have been no signs that the administration will let up. “Nothing is changing, same quotas,” said one official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, an occasional Trump critic who is retiring, told Reuters that Miller “was in denial” as he and other Republican lawmakers tried to warn him before the election that Trump’s immigration and tariff policies were driving away voters.

“We said, ‘You’re going to give us a bad midterm election,’ and he rejected it,” Bacon said.

‘DOUBLING DOWN ON A FAILED STRATEGY’

The White House said Miller will continue to deliver “historic successes” in his new role, but Bacon said most of his peers in the House view it as “doubling down on a failed strategy.”

“It’s going over like a lead balloon in most of Congress,” Bacon said of Miller’s appointment. 

Miller also has overseen Trump’s executive orders, giving him an expansive understanding of the administrative tools available to the president. Several people interviewed for this story said they expect the White House to rely on executive orders more extensively rather than working with lawmakers. 

Republican legislators will face pressure to stick with Trump through Democratic-led investigations to come, even if they damage the party as a whole. 

“Those on Capitol Hill looking to break away from the Trump administration will know that Stephen Miller is not going to sit idly by and watch that happen,” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean.

ENDING THE IRAN WAR?

As well as the domestic issues he has focused on for most of his career, Miller now will have a greater say in foreign affairs. Miller opposes prolonging the war with Iran, according to three sources familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity, but he strongly supports Israel — potentially putting him at odds with a president who has threatened to resume strikes on Iran and announced he will end aid to Jerusalem.

Miller’s elevation also has unnerved some corporate lobbyists, who worry he will not be as responsive to their issues as Wiles, who cultivated relationships with top executives.  

“This will be a big change,” said a senior lobbyist at a Trump-aligned firm who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Miller is there to focus on political priorities, like immigration and tariffs, stuff Trump cares about, and won’t have the same approach as Susie, who understood policies have unintended consequences.”

Miller’s appointment was met with praise from senior cabinet officials and political supporters, who described him as the fighter they will need in Trump’s final stretch.

“I think Donald Trump has found his wartime consigliere,” Trump ally Roger Stone told Reuters.

(Reporting by Jarret Renshaw, David Morgan, Kristina Cooke and Steve Holland and Andy Sullivan; Writing by Andy Sullivan; editing by Sergio Non and Alistair Bell)

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