How Katie Miller Lobbied For Her Husband’s Promotion

President Donald Trump's decision to make Stephen Miller the White House chief of staff followed a weeks-long lobbying effort from Katie Miller, his wife.

Katie Miller told people to call the president on her husband’s behalf if they believed that he was better than other potential successors to Wiles, according to two people with direct knowledge of her role, who, like others in this story, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some of the names Trump discussed privately over the last month were Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Randy Levine, the president of the New York Yankees. Lee Zeldin and Sergio Gor were also floated, according to two people close to the White House.

One White House adviser, granted anonymity to speak about sensitive matters, said the prospect of Pulte in charge had alarmed many inside the administration.

Pulte could not be reached for comment.

Katie Miller’s persuasion campaign unfolded even as the White House furiously denied that Trump was considering replacing Susie Wiles.

POLITICO Playbook reported in October that Trump was calling friends and associates to chat about possible replacements for Wiles, including Stephen Miller.

Katie Miller, who declined to comment, worked at the Department of Homeland Security during the first Trump administration and on the White House’s coronavirus task force. During the second Trump administration, she worked with Elon Musk on his DOGE effort and launched a podcast, hosting high-ranking administration officials.

Katie Miller’s advocacy in support of her husband intensified after the election. She made half a dozen calls to people close to Trump, including Scott Bessent and multiple people close to Vice President JD Vance, according to two people familiar with the calls.

Bessent did not respond to a request for comment.

She said if Susie were to leave, then it should be Stephen, and “I would appreciate if you could share that message,” according to the person with direct knowledge.

The people familiar with Katie Miller's outreach said she never advocated for ousting Wiles and her latest round of calls this week came only after it was clear Trump was ready for a new chief of staff.

“He started telling people he was done with Susie,” after the election the person with direct knowledge said. “This is what happens when you get creamed.”

The White House said that Miller is a natural choice to be chief of staff.

“Stephen Miller has been a key player in delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda since day one," said spokesperson Lauren Bis. "He has spearheaded the administration’s crime crackdown including in D.C. and Memphis, record setting deregulation, unleashed American energy, dismantled drug cartels, and secured our border. In his new role, he will continue to deliver historic successes for the American people."

While frustration with Wiles in parts of the White House had been building throughout the midterm campaign, the unexpectedly humiliating GOP defeat Tuesday night cemented her fate.

Trump called several allies in the days after the election angry about top advisers including Wiles and her allies, according to two people close to the White House.

“There was just no saving Susie. She knew that,” said one of the two people close to the White House.

Wiles, who recently underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer, had been thinking about leaving after the midterms, according to two additional people close to the White House.

“She loves the job — it’s the job of a lifetime, but you have no life,” according to one of the two people. “She’s sick of like — having drinks and then going back to work.”

As far back as October Katie Miller had received calls from people inside the White House and Trump allies about the possibility that Wiles could leave. During those calls she suggested people should support Stephen Miller as a possible replacement, according to the person with direct knowledge.

While there had been speculation that Wiles might leave at the end of the year, the midterm wipeout made it all but certain.

One person close to the White House said replacing Wiles with Miller would show his political base that the president remains committed to the MAGA mission.

“It’s a signal to the base that, you know, the White House hears you,” said one of the two people close to the White House.

Megan Messerly contributed to this report.