Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Friday sharply criticized President Trump's decision to replace outgoing White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with senior adviser Stephen Miller, saying the move was a "colossal mistake" and urging the president to reconsider.
"I've criticized a lot of the president's advisors for bad advice that I think created some of the environment on Tuesday, but the president made this decision, and the president needs to rethink it," Tillis told CNN's Jake Tapper. "It is a colossal mistake, and the last thing we need 72 hours after the whooping we got on Tuesday."
The shakeup marks the first major White House staffing change since Republicans suffered significant losses in the midterm elections, losing at least seven Senate seats and 42 House seats as of Friday, with several races still too close to call.
Miller, who architected the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, has been a polarizing figure. Those policies contributed to Trump's approval rating hitting a career low ahead of Election Day, likely weighing on GOP candidates. One particularly contentious operation in Minneapolis in early 2026 resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents; Miller at the time labeled the victims domestic terrorists.
"This past Tuesday, Republicans lost because we lost the narrative on the border, a success that the president should have been heralding," Tillis said. "Now we're talking about putting one of the most partisan, polarizing figures, and not only polarizing in terms of Republicans and Democrats, but even among Republicans."
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump reportedly told aides shortly after election night that Miller's immigration campaign had gone too far. Tillis questioned why Trump would elevate Miller if he believed immigration had become a political liability.
"What was inappropriate is to take a guy who made us lose on the immigration issue," Tillis said. "So no, he doesn't get a passing grade for me, even judging on the kind of curve that I made with some people among his advisers."
Tillis has been a frequent critic of Trump's cabinet and advisers. In March, he expressed disappointment in then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a hearing, and in a viral January post, he compared Noem and Miller to "sycophants."
The North Carolina Republican, who announced he would not seek reelection, saw his seat won by Democrat Roy Cooper by nearly 20 points. Democrats also flipped five of the state's congressional seats, with five races still outstanding, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Tillis's latest remarks align with Democratic criticism of Miller's appointment, and his warning echoes concerns about the administration's direction. He has also previously warned about the impact of controversial nominees on GOP priorities.
