Networks Decry Stephen Miller Becoming Chief of Staff, CBS Implies Misogyny After Change

Nicholas Spinnato
November 6th, 2026 10:35 PM

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Following the news of President Trump promoting Stephen Miller to Chief of Staff after Susie Wiles’s resignation, all the evening network newscasts showed some displeasure in their reports and labeled Miller as controversial, including a loaded report from ABC’s Jonathan Karl while CBS’s Weijia Jiang implied that Trump was a misogynist, like NBC did weeks ago after Katie Zacharia was removed as press secretary.

ABC World News Tonight was, as usual, the most biased of the evening news broadcasts, as, after a report on the arrest of an illegal immigrant in DC who threatened to kill Trump, he already started to label Miller and stated, “The president choosing Stephen Miller, the architect of the president's controversial immigration tactics, as his next chief of staff.”

Karl, a frequent host of ABC’s This Week, claimed the appointment of Miller meant Trump was ready for “battle,” with more connection to immigration policy:

 

 

Tonight, an unmistakable signal Trump is preparing to do battle with the new democratic congress. The president ousting chief of staff Susie Wiles and replacing her with Stephen Miller, perhaps his most controversial and combative adviser and the architect of those immigration raids.

After Karl reminisced over Wiles, and Trump’s nickname for her as the “Ice Maiden,” he then started to go after Miller in very loaded descriptions:

Stephen Miller is a fiery advocate for pushing the limits of presidential power, sending the U.S. Military to patrol American cities, dropping bombs on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, and those mass deportation raids.

Karl then mentioned possible impeachment votes against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and said the change in chief of staff move might help Hegseth stay in his role, before he read a tweet from Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who called Miller “a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands.” 

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‘MAGA-coded’ CBS Evening News continued the bashing of Miller, and connected his Wiles’s removal and Miller’s appointment to the midterms, as CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil implied it was against voter sentiment:

Miller is an architect of the president's mass deportation program. His promotion in the face of voter anger and rejection on Tuesday signals to many a White House digging in for a fight. 

After detailing Wiles past few weeks, containing rumors of a departure, which Trump initially denied, Jiang began the “controversial” labeling and called him “one of the most controversial figures in the administration.” She continued: “Miller is a longtime Trump loyalist and the mastermind of many hard-line immigration policies, including the mass deportation program and more aggressive ICE raids. Some Republicans have said Miller went too far, costing them congressional seats. But Trump praised him.”

Jiang also highlighted Jeffries' comments on Miller, before Dokoupil set Jiang up to claim misogyny in Trump’s cabinet changes:

 

 

DOKOUPIL: And Weijia joins us now. Weijia, the number of female officials in particular that have left the administration seems to be growing. What can you tell us on that?

JIANG: That's right. So far, the highest profile departures, including Susie Wiles and four cabinet members, have all been women. In fact, no man serving in a cabinet-level position has been replaced. One of them, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who some have blamed for Tuesday night's losses, because of his role in the war with Iran, still has his job, as of now.

In response, a White House official says Trump has elevated several women to senior positions, including Wiles, who was the first woman to ever serve as chief of staff. Tony?

Back in October, after Katie Zacharia’s short-lived tenure as White House Press Secretary, NBC also decried the firing and implied misogyny. CBS made the same mistake in the unnecessary add-on to the story. Then, in a preview of a 60 Minutes interview between Ross Douthat and Trump, the president claimed more changes to the cabinet would come soon.

 

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This time, NBC Nightly News did not make the same comparison. But anchor Tom Llamas did continue the controversial labeling in his introduction to the chief of staff shakeup after the midterms, which was paired with the news of the possible Trump assassin arrest:

News of that arrest on the heels of a major shakeup inside the White House just days after the election. Many of you, as a repudiation of the president's more extreme policies. Today, he elevated the man behind many of them. In a surprise announcement, President Trump promoted his longtime adviser, Stephen Miller, to be the next White House Chief of Staff, replacing Susie Wiles, the first woman to ever hold that job.”

 

 

Later, Llamas again labeled Miller as a “controversial aide” while White House correspondent Gutierrez said, “Stephen Miller, the polarizing architect of the president's crackdown on illegal immigration, is the new White House Chief of Staff."

After more on the change, including Wiles' long tenure and battle with breast cancer, Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joined Llamas to claim voters would have rejected Miller's appointment:

Now, remember, President Trump said he was looking to work with Democrats. Miller has been one of the president's most hard-line advisers, pushing many policies voters rejected. And now he will be the top gatekeeper to the president.

The transcript is below. Click "expand":

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ABC World News Tonight

November 5. 2026

6:33:29 PM Eastern

(...)

DAVID MUIR: Meantime, there's been a major shakeup at the White House tonight. President Trump's White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, is out. The president choosing Stephen Miller, the architect of the president's controversial immigration tactics, as his next chief of staff. 

Jon Karl with late reporting tonight.

[Story begins]

JONATHAN KARL: Tonight, an unmistakable signal Trump is preparing to do battle with the new democratic congress. The president ousting chief of staff Susie Wiles and replacing her with Stephen Miller, perhaps his most controversial and combative adviser and the architect of those immigration raids.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I wanted to make a change. I think Susie has done a very good job, great job, but I just wanted to make it. Stephen has been great and we got to make we got to make moves

KARL: Miller making it clear his mission is to fight the Democrats, declaring, quote, “The mission is now more clear than ever. Fight with all our soul to support our president and defend this magnificent republic. Susie Wiles, the first-ever female white house chief of staff, served for nearly two years and was credited with orchestrating Trump's historic 2024 comeback.

TRUMP: [In 2024 After Eleciton Victory] Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you, the ice maiden, we call it the ice queen.

KARL: But behind the scenes, sources telling ABC News, Trump was blaming Wiles for his midterm losses while submitting her resignation last night, writing today “it's been an honor of a lifetime.”

REPORTER: What do you want Stephen Miller to do differently?

TRUMP: Just run things well.

KARL: Stephen Miller is a fiery advocate for pushing the limits of presidential power, sending the U.S. Military to patrol American cities, dropping bombs on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, and those mass deportation raids.

STEPHEN MILLER [On CNN in 2025]: Ice officers should not have to live in fear and violence to do their jobs, period.

KARL: Just a few hours after Alex Preti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, Miller called him a, quote, “domestic terrorist.”

News of Wiles ousting comes as defense secretary Pete Hegseth faces a likely impeachment resolution in the House next week, with even Republican Trump allies criticizing Hegseth.

REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY: [On NewsNation] I can tell you with a high level of confidence that there are a lot of questions about Hegseth. We have no idea what the strategy is moving forward in Iran. No one's happy about Iran.

KARL: Multiple sources tell me Wiles had been a critic of Hegseth's, and believe her departure makes it less likely Trump will remove him as defense secretary. For his part, Hegseth reacted to wiles ouster by saying, quote, “Patriots in control.”

[Cuts back to live]

And, David, we're hearing from Democrats about Stephen Miller. Hakeem Jeffries, the democratic leader who's expected to become Speaker of the House in January, putting out a statement saying, “Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands.” 

And one other headline on this very busy day. A court stop stopping construction of the triumphal arch that Trump plans to build outside of Arlington Cemetery. This a temporary restraining order saying that it must be halted for now.

(...)

CBS Evening News

November 6, 2026

6:31:33 PM

TONY DOKOUPIL: Good evening. The first major shake-up since the midterms. President Trump today promoting Stephen Miller into the crucial role of White House Chief of Staff. 

Miller is an architect of the president's mass deportation program. His promotion in the face of voter anger and rejection on Tuesday signals to many a White House digging in for a fight. 

We have two reports on this, including 60 Minutes correspondent Ross Douthat and his exclusive interview with the president today, but we begin with senior white house correspondent Weijia Jiang at the white house. Weijia, good evening to you.

WEIJIA JIANG: Tony, good evening. CBS News has learned Susie wiles had planned to remain in her role until the new Congress is sworn in early next year, but after those staggering midterm losses, President Trump decided Wiles had to go much sooner. 

[Story begins]

Tonight, the first chip to fall following the midterm elections. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is out.

TRUMP: Just I wanted to make a change. I think Susie’s done a very good job.

JIANG: Just three weeks ago, Trump insisted he was not even considering replacing Wiles.

TRUMP: Zero chance. Zero. 

Susie is here, and she's going to be here for a long time.

JIANG: But CBS News has learned Wiles submitted her resignation Thursday night, and it was tied to the flood of GOP Defeats. Now Stephen Miller, one of the most controversial figures in the administration, will serve as chief of staff.

MILLER: [On June 25] One way or another, this nation has to end birthright citizenship.

JIANG: Miller is a longtime trump loyalist and the mastermind of many hard-line immigration policies, including the mass deportation program and more aggressive ICE raids. Some Republicans have said Miller went too far, costing them congressional seats. But Trump praised him.

TRUMP: Stephen has been with me from the beginning. He gets it. Very good policy. And he's a very good man. He'll do a great job. Great manager.

JIANG After Tuesday's losses, Trump suggested he would work with the incoming democratic majority. Hakeem Jeffries, likely the next Speaker of the house, suggested Miller's promotion was a poor start.

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY) Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and a reckless extremist. This guy has American blood on his hands. He should not be elevated to the position of white house chief of staff. He should be fired.

DOKOUPIL: And Weijia joins us now. Weijia, the number of female officials in particular that have left the administration seems to be growing. What can you tell us on that?

JIANG: That's right. So far, the highest profile departures, including Susie Wiles and four cabinet members, have all been women. In fact, no man serving in a cabinet level position has been replaced. One of them, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who some have blamed for Tuesday night's losses, because of his role in the war with Iran, still has his job, as of now.

In response, a White House official says Trump has elevated several women to senior positions, including Wiles, who was the first woman to ever serve as chief of staff. Tony?

(...)

NBC Nightly News

November 6, 2026

6:32:19 PM Eastern

TOM LLAMAS: We're coming on the air with some breaking news. The Secret Service is arresting a man near the white house carrying an arsenal of weapons. You see them right here, including that AR-15-style gun. Authorities say he was an illegal immigrant, allegedly claiming he heard voices telling him to kill the president. 

News of that arrest on the heels of a major shakeup inside the White House just days after the election. Many of you, as a repudiation of the president's more extreme policies. Today, he elevated the man behind many of them in a surprise announcement: President Trump promoted his longtime adviser, Stephen Miller, to be the next White House Chief of Staff, replacing Susie Wiles, the first woman to ever hold that job. 

Miller is the architect of the president's mass deportation policy, a key issue that motivated voters on Tuesday, with a majority saying it went too far. We have new reporting tonight on what led up to that change and what it could mean for the final two years of the Trump presidency.

(...)

6:34:04 PM Eastern

LLAMAS: Now to the other breaking news involving the president. His shakeup at the White House, naming his controversial aide Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff following the Republican wipeout in the midterms. Here's Gabe Gutierrez.

GABE GUTIERREZ: Tonight, the first white house shakeup following that massive midterm defeat. Stephen Miller, the polarizing architect of the president's crackdown on illegal immigration, is the new White House Chief of Staff. Susie Wiles is out.

TRUMP: I wanted to make a change. I think Susie’s done a very good job, great job. But I just wanted to make it – Stephen has been great and we got to make we got to make moves sometimes. Sometimes in life you have to make moves.

GUTIERREZ: The White House official telling NBC News Wiles submitted her resignation last night. Hours later posting serving President Trump in the White House has been the honor of a lifetime. Just weeks ago, the president had strongly dismissed reports that he was considering replacing her.

TRUMP: Susie is here, and she's going to be here for a long time.

GUTIERREZ: But then came those crushing Republican losses. Wiles was Trump's longest-serving chief of staff and the first woman to hold a powerful position in the nation's history.

TRUMP: The ice maiden, we call it the ice maiden.

GUTIERREZ: In March, she revealed she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer but kept working and in September announced she was cancer-free. 

Miller's elevation comes as the administration prepares for a potential showdown with Democrats, who have promised investigations of Trump officials, posting “lawyer up.” Miller frequently clashing with Democrats.

MILLER: We are not going to let the communists destroy a great American city.

GUTIERREZ: Tonight, top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries saying Miller's presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. While the president is touting his promotion.

TRUMP: Stephen’s been with me from beginning. He gets it. Very good politically, and he's a very good man. He'll do a great job. Great manager.

[Cuts back to live]

LLAMAS: Gabe is covering the president in Florida. And Gabe, things are moving pretty quickly. Wiles did not make that trip?

GUTIERREZ: Yes, Tom. Wiles said today was her last day. Miller is now traveling with the president, and while she did not mention it in her post, the source who has spoken with Walz confirms to NBC News that her resignation was due in part to those GOP midterm losses. Tom.

LLAMAS: Gabe. Thank you. Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker is here. Kristen, you have some new reporting on what looks like the president really doubling down here.

KRISTEN WELKER: That's right. Tom. One Republican lawmaker telling me tonight this is the president's way of saying to Democrats, I'm going to fight you. Now, remember, President Trump said he was looking to work with Democrats. Miller has been one of the president's most hard-line advisers, pushing many policies voters rejected. And now he will be the top gatekeeper to the president. Though a senior administration official tonight telling me Miller believes he has fostered great working relationships, arguing he can get things done. Tom?

(...)

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