Trump fires first female chief of staff
Stephen Miller replaces Susie Wiles, marking the latest departure of a senior female official following the Democratic midterm victory.
By Diego Mendoza ·
Susie Wiles, the first woman to hold the position of White House chief of staff, is leaving her post after President Donald Trump announced her removal on Friday. The change places immigration adviser Stephen Miller in the role, a shift that solidifies a predominantly male leadership team at the executive branch's top level.
The announcement came days after a sweeping midterm election result gave Democrats control of both the House and Senate. Trump posted the news on Truth Social, citing a desire for change. He told reporters on Friday, “I wanted to make a change,” adding that Wiles had “done a very good job” and that “Stephen’s been great.”
Wiles reportedly submitted her resignation on Thursday night. In a statement, she called the role “the honor of a lifetime.” She expressed pride in the administration’s work, listing achievements such as “securing our border and cutting taxes to strengthening our economy and putting America first.”
Her exit follows a series of departures by women in high-ranking positions. In recent months, White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was dismissed just five days after starting. Former homeland security secretary Kristi Noem and former attorney general Pam Bondi were also removed from their posts. Tulsi Gabbard, the former national intelligence director, reportedly resigned under pressure, while former ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has also left her position.
Wiles had remained in her role despite her breast cancer diagnosis, which she announced in September had been cured. Trump previously stated that she was “going to be here for a long time.” However, her departure coincides with the resignation of Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the justice department’s civil rights division, who stepped down the day before the announcement.
The personnel changes occur as Democrats prepare to investigate federal agencies using their new congressional majority. The justice department, which has faced accusations of being used against political rivals, has seen other departures, including assistant attorney general for national security John Eisenberg and attorney Jason Reding Quiñones.
A small number of women remain in the cabinet, including agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins and Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler. Natalie Harp, a 35-year-old political aide, continues to appear frequently with the president at public events.
