President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly set to appoint Stephen Miller as his deputy chief of staff for policy within the White House, according to sources familiar with the transition’s plans. Although Trump has not publicly announced this selection, Vice President-elect JD Vance appeared to confirm the choice through a post on X, praising it as “another fantastic pick by the president.” With campaign manager Susie Wiles already appointed as the chief of staff, Miller’s expected role would centralize significant influence over policy-making in the forthcoming administration.
Miller is widely recognized for his hardline stance on immigration, having served in various roles during Trump’s first term including director of speechwriting and senior adviser. His tenure was characterized by initiatives that sought to implement stringent immigration policies, which included proposals aimed at reducing asylum grants and work visa allocations, penalizing “sanctuary cities,” and expanding a controversial travel ban. Miller’s policies reflect a broader narrative of promoting a more aggressive approach to immigration, which he may pursue should Trump return to the presidency.
During the recent election cycle, Miller expressed his fervent beliefs through social media, imploring voters to “GET THE HELL TO THE POLLS AND VOTE TO END THE INVASION!!!” He framed illegal immigration as a serious threat, making incendiary claims about its impact on American communities. Such rhetoric has been a hallmark of Miller’s political strategy, mobilizing the right-wing base by framing immigration as both a national and cultural crisis requiring immediate and severe action.
Since exiting the White House, Miller established the right-wing group America First Legal, collaborating with former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows. This group has actively engaged in legal battles against the Biden administration, challenging policies they assert discriminate against certain demographics, such as white farmers. Their lawsuit against the American Rescue Plan illustrates their commitment to opposing actions they view as discriminatory and indicative of a broader “woke” agenda. They have also raised complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on various corporate policies.
Moreover, even as Trump has tried to distance himself from certain initiatives during the 2024 campaign, Miller’s organization has lent formal support to Project 2025, a conservative campaign aimed at overhauling federal programs, which has drawn criticism for its potential to decimate environmental protections and education initiatives. This underscores a long-term strategic alignment within the Republican Party that aims to reshape and often roll back the progressive policies established in previous administrations, particularly those under Biden.
In the lead-up to the recent elections, discussions surfaced regarding Trump’s commitment to health initiatives, highlighted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s account of an encounter with Miller at a campaign rally. Miller reportedly assured Kennedy of the administration’s dedication to a health agenda aimed at reducing chronic diseases and addressing environmental toxins. Although the emphasis on public health appears to be an outlier in the broader policy focus of Miller and Trump, it reflects a nuanced attempt to incorporate health issues into their platform, emphasizing a multi-faceted approach to governance that transcends traditional party lines. This interplay between hard-right policy stances and public health considerations illustrates the complex landscape of Trump’s potential second term.
