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

Newly appointed White House chief of staff Stephen Miller 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 U.S. President Donald Trump. | HAIYUN JIANG / THE NEW YORK TIMES

REUTERS

Nov 9, 2026

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida/WASHINGTON – U.S. 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. 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.

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