Despite losing the midterm elections, Trump remains unwilling to concede. He has announced a personnel reshuffle: Susie Wiles, 69, the White House Chief of Staff, is being reassigned to the political operations unit, while Stephen Miller, the Deputy Chief of Staff, is stepping into the top role.

Earlier, many observers expected Hegseth to be the first to bear the brunt of the defeat. Some Democrats, and even several Republicans, had begun discussing impeachment proceedings against him. Yet Trump’s first move targets Wiles instead.

Wiles is the first woman to serve as White House Chief of Staff in U.S. history and also served as Trump’s campaign manager. Insiders have described her as the “clear-headed adult” within the White House—a buffer between Trump and the day-to-day functioning of government.

The new appointee, Miller, is 41 years old. He has been with Trump since 2016, drafting speeches for both presidential terms and remaining deeply embedded in the inner circle. He is widely recognized as a staunch hardliner. Key policies such as family separation at the border, the Muslim travel ban, efforts to eliminate birthright citizenship, and large-scale deportation campaigns were largely driven by him.

Many Democratic lawmakers have directly accused Miller of harboring white nationalist sympathies. A book dedicated to him, titled *The Inciter*, reflects this perception. His ideological framework is straightforward: power and dominance dictate global affairs; compromise is unacceptable. He operates like a relentless bull terrier, loyal without question to Trump.

This leadership change has been interpreted in Washington as a signal that Trump is entering an openly confrontational phase. Bannon even likened Miller to Trump’s “prime minister.” Allies describe him as someone who will execute orders without hesitation or regard for consequences. Analysts suggest the appointment indicates a strategy to bypass Congress entirely.

Miller now faces three main fronts of confrontation. First, a direct challenge to Congress. The White House has prepared a series of executive actions aimed at advancing policy without legislative approval. In response to subpoenas, the strategy will be delay and non-cooperation—dragging out legal battles through protracted judicial processes, betting that investigations will not conclude before the end of Trump’s term. With Republican control of the Senate set to expire in early January next year, time for cabinet adjustments is extremely limited.

The second front targets the federal administrative system itself. Having previously implemented aggressive immigration measures, Miller plans to deploy National Guard units to enforce immigration laws in sanctuary cities and cut federal funding for universities promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The third front is counterintuitive: it turns inward toward Trump’s own voter base. The Republican Party suffered a significant defeat partly due to a mass shift among Latino voters. This backlash was fueled by overzealous enforcement actions under Miller’s direction, including incidents involving the fatal shooting of unarmed civilians. Many Latino voters have expressed strong opposition to such tactics.

Typically, such a setback would prompt a strategic retreat and de-escalation. Instead, Trump has elevated Miller. The pledge made on election night to seek common ground with Democrats now appears more like tactical delay than genuine conciliation.

There is one exception: Iran policy. Reports indicate Miller will adopt a more restrained posture externally, while maintaining full force domestically.

In essence, Wiles’ approach emphasized outreach and expansion—seeking swing voters. Miller’s strategy prioritizes consolidating the base, abandoning moderates. With many Republicans already distancing themselves from Trump, the path of broadening support has become untenable. Trump has chosen instead to lock in his core constituency. To him, the issue is not a flawed strategy but insufficient intensity in execution.

For the remainder of his term, bipartisan negotiation in Washington is effectively over. A surge in executive orders, ongoing litigation, and deepening societal polarization are now the norm. The showdown between the White House and Congress has officially begun.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881451776437376/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s personal views.