Donald Trump Appoints Stephen Miller After Midterm Losses

President Donald Trump appointed ultra-nationalist Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles, following a significant Republican defeat in the midterm elections. The appointment signals a refusal to shift policies on tariffs or immigration despite the electoral rebuke and the impending transition to Democratic legislative control in Washington.

In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, Trump attributed the losses to rising gasoline prices, the administration's relationship with Israel, and voter dissatisfaction with the war in Iran. He suggested that his absence from the ballot hindered the party's performance. Internally, the Republican Party has split into factions, with Vice President JD Vance and other critics identifying the Iran conflict as a primary cause of the defeat.

Trump has simultaneously engaged in erratic public behavior, including renewing claims of election fraud and calling unannounced into a C-SPAN program. He also suggested that Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, serve as his new press secretary. These diversions occur as the administration faces the potential impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.