Rep. Marlin Stutzman criticizes President Trump’s appointment of Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff

President Donald Trump announced on Nov. 6 that Stephen Miller would become the 33rd White House chief of staff, succeeding Susie Wiles, according to a White House release. Miller, the announcement said, has served alongside Trump since the beginning of the administration and has been involved in advancing major policy priorities.

In response to the appointment, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) told The Hill in an interview published Nov. 8 that he viewed the promotion as a mistake. Stutzman said he “come[s] from the business world” and compared the situation to personnel management, arguing that if a team “takes a beating” badly enough, leaders should “fire people.”

Stutzman’s comments were not tied in the report to a specific policy document, court case, or legislative action, but instead focused on the leadership decision to elevate Miller to the top White House staffing role. The remarks reflected friction between at least one House Republican and the administration’s personnel choices following a period of heightened political and policy debate in Washington.

The White House release described Miller’s new role in operational terms, naming him chief of staff and stating he would take over after Wiles’ tenure. Chief of staff is a senior position responsible for coordinating White House offices and supporting the President’s agenda across staffing, scheduling, and internal management.

The Hill reported that Stutzman decried Miller’s promotion and used the language of accountability for performance in leadership teams. The interview did not provide additional details of internal deliberations or any direct dispute about specific immigration, law enforcement, or regulatory proposals.