Trump Doubles Down With Miller
The president responded to rejection at the polls by naming his longtime aide as his new chief of staff.
Donald Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has been replaced by Stephen Miller, who has been the administration's most powerful figure since taking over as deputy chief of staff. Miller is often described as Trump's "prime minister" due to his immense influence. Despite being praised for her professionalism, Wiles simply facilitated Trump's impulses without questioning them, whereas Miller has actively driven and shaped those impulses.
Miller is described as "fanatically post-liberal," often viewing the opposition as an extremist organization. Trump's administration is driven by Miller's belief that immigration is a plot orchestrated by left-wing elites to destroy traditional America. This has led to a fervent campaign of mass deportation and a significant crackdown on legal immigration, except for white South Africans.
Despite Trump's tariffs, corruption, and other issues, Trump's unpopularity stems largely from Miller's immigration enforcement. When J. D. Vance blamed the war with Iran for Trump's disintegration, it signaled the administration would tolerate criticism only in this realm. Miller's elevation to chief of staff combines retreat on a single issue with a determination to advance on all others, further fueling Trump's zero-sum mentality.
In a moment of defeat, Trump empowers an aide he recognizes has sometimes gone too far, thus avoiding any admission of failure or weakness.
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