Stephen Miller (Santa Mónica, California, 1985) is one of the main figures responsible for Donald Trump’s immigration policy and one of his oldest collaborators. After serving as deputy chief of staff for Policy and an advisor on Homeland Security, this Friday, November 6, he has been chosen by the US president to replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, an appointment that will take effect on Monday.
His career is closely tied to the most restrictive policies of the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again). He took part in Trump’s first presidential campaign, worked during his first four years in the White House, and returned to the Government in January 2025 with expanded responsibilities for immigration and security.
His name also gained international prominence in early 2026, when he defended US aspirations regarding Greenland. Days earlier, his wife, Katie Miller, had published on X a map of the island covered by the flag of the United States and accompanied by the word "Soon" ("Soon"), an image that prompted diplomatic protests from Denmark.
His origins and his first steps in politics
Miller was born on August 23, 1985, in Santa Mónica, California. He studied at Duke University, where he took part in conservative student organizations and wrote opinion articles on political matters.
After graduating in 2007, he began working in Washington for various Republican congressmen, including Michele Bachmann and John Shadegg. He later joined the staff of Senator Jeff Sessions, one of the main proponents of a restrictive immigration policy within the Republican Party.
His experience in the Senate allowed him to specialize in immigration, border security, and federal legislation—issues that would end up defining his political career.
The advisor who accompanied Trump since his first campaign
In 2016, Miller joined Donald Trump’s presidential campaign as a political advisor and speechwriter.
After the Republican victory, he was appointed the president’s chief advisor and took part in the development of some of the most controversial immigration measures of his first term.
Among them were restrictions on entry for citizens of several Muslim-majority countries and policies for toughening border control. He also took part in the drafting of the messages with which Trump defended these decisions to his voters.
Miller remained in the Administration throughout the first term, between 2017 and 2021, something unusual among the president’s initial aides.
The architect of mass deportations
After Trump’s electoral defeat in 2020, Miller co-founded America First Legal, a conservative legal organization dedicated to challenging decisions of the Joe Biden Administration and promoting the political priorities of the Trumpist movement.
With Trump’s return to the Presidency in January 2025, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and adviser on Domestic Homeland Security.
From that post he acquired decisive influence over the Government’s immigration agenda, especially in coordinating deportations, toughening border measures, and carrying out actions by the federal agencies tasked with enforcing immigration legislation.
His proposals have prompted criticism from civil rights groups and Democratic leaders, who question both immigration restrictions and the legal safeguards of certain removal procedures.
For his supporters, Miller has been one of the people responsible for turning Trump’s election promises into concrete measures.
His position on Greenland and the controversy involving his wife
Miller has also taken part in foreign policy debates, especially in relation to Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark.
On January 3, 2026, his wife, Katie Miller, shared on X a map of Greenland covered by the U.S. flag with a message of a single word: "Soon".
The post appeared after the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro and prompted a response from the Danish ambassador in Washington, Jesper Møller Sørensen, who recalled that Denmark and the United States are NATO allies and called for respect for the kingdom’s territorial integrity.
The Greenland prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also criticized the image for considering it disrespectful.
Days later, Stephen Miller publicly defended that Greenland should belong to the United States and questioned that other countries could militarily prevent a possible U.S. action on the island.
His statements contributed to increasing tension with Denmark and other European allies, who have reiterated that the future of the territory corresponds to its inhabitants and the competent institutions.
His marriage to Katie Miller
Stephen Miller has been married since February 2020 to Katie Miller, previously known as Katie Waldman.
His wife has also developed a political and communications career linked to the Republican Party. During Trump’s first term, she worked in the Department of Homeland Security and on the team of then–Vice President Mike Pence.
In 2025, she joined the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), promoted by Elon Musk, and later worked in the businessman's professional circle before starting her own podcast.
The couple is part of the political and media circle close to Trump, although their respective professional activities are independent.
His rise to chief of staff after the legislative elections
The appointment announced this Friday, November 6, represents a new promotion for Miller within the White House.
Trump has decided to entrust her with the chief of staff role after the legislative elections of November 3, in which the Democrats made major gains and regained control of Congress.
Miller will replace Susie Wiles, who will leave the post to join the president’s political organization.
As chief of staff, she will take on coordination of the presidential team and the organization of the White House’s day-to-day work, in addition to performing a key function in the relationship between Trump, his advisers, and the various departments of the Administration.
Her appointment confirms the continuity of one of the collaborators most identified with the immigration and security policies that have characterized the two terms of the Republican president.