President Donald Trump's decision to promote Stephen Miller to chief of staff has ignited anger among some House Republicans, who are blaming Miller's hardline immigration policies for the party's significant losses in the recent midterm elections.
Multiple Republican lawmakers, speaking anonymously and on the record, voiced strong opposition to Miller's new role. "Horrible decision," Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital. Another Republican lawmaker, speaking candidly, described the decision as being in "utter disbelief."
These reactions come in the wake of the midterm elections, where Republicans lost control of both the House and the Senate. Analysts suggest Trump's policies on immigration and tariffs played a role in alienating voters, particularly Latino and Hispanic voters in key districts. "Because of his immigration positions, I just think we ruined a lot of our goodwill with Latino voters," Stutzman stated.
Some Republicans claim Miller ignored warnings from the party about the political fallout of his immigration enforcement strategies. "I've been in several group meetings where a lot of us have told him, ‘Your immigration enforcement policies are backfiring back home, our people are mad, our businesses are mad — even in deep red districts — and it is impacting not just the voters, but the donors, and everybody top to bottom,'" one GOP lawmaker told Fox News Digital. "But it looked to me like Stephen Miller was only after numbers … he would not listen to us."
Retiring Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., also criticized Miller's immigration policy, saying it "took an immigration policy that favored the president 2:1 in the public, over-reached and made it 2:1 unfavorable." Bacon added, "Many Republicans don’t like him."
However, not all Republicans directly blamed Miller for the losses. One GOP lawmaker described Miller as a "megalomaniac" but added, "he's not the reason why we lost...no one knows who Stephen Miller is in our districts."
In contrast to the criticism from some within his party, Trump has publicly supported Miller. In a Truth Social post announcing the promotion, Trump called Miller one of his "most trusted advisors" and later told reporters that Miller would "do a great job."
White House spokesperson Lauren Bis defended Miller, stating he "has been a key player in delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda since day one." Bis highlighted Miller's work on crime crackdown, deregulation, energy policy, dismantling cartels, and border security, asserting he will "continue to deliver historic successes for the American people."
Vice President JD Vance and House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris also offered positive remarks. Vance stated Miller is an "amazing patriot and will do great things," while Harris noted Miller's "proven record focused on securing our border, combating crime, and advancing a now much-needed common-sense conservative agenda for our country."