Trump Names Stephen Miller Chief of Staff as Midterm Defeat Looms

President Trump appointed Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff on Sunday, replacing Susie Wiles. The decision marks the first major personnel change in the White House since Republicans lost the midterm elections. Miller previously served as deputy chief of staff and played a central role in shaping the administration’s immigration policies.

NPR correspondent Mara Liasson stated that the appointment signals Trump’s readiness to confront an opposition Congress. Liasson noted that Miller supports unchecked executive power. The president also posted on social media that he offered the White House Press Secretary position to Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Trump later described the offer as a joke, but Liasson observed that the public tends to take presidential statements seriously.

The 119th Congress is entering its final weeks before a new Democrat-controlled House and Senate take office. Lawmakers are focused on keeping the federal government open because current funding runs out on December 11. With little time to negotiate the standard 12 appropriations bills, the legislature is expected to pass a short-term continuing resolution to extend funding.

NPR analyst Eric McDaniel warned that attendance could be a challenge for Republican lawmakers who lost their seats in the midterms. The House has a two-vote majority, meaning any absenteeism could jeopardize Republican plans to end their term on their own terms. McDaniel said Senate Republicans will likely attempt to confirm as many judges and Trump appointees as possible before Democrats assume power in January. He added that those confirmations would require substantial compromises from the White House once Democrats control the chamber.

Nvidia launched an internal investigation after reports emerged that its CEO, Jensen Huang, had a close relationship with a woman accused of being a Chinese spy. The New York Times reported that a Chinese intelligence operation targeted Huang to send advanced Nvidia AI chips to China. China denied the allegations in a press briefing on Monday. Nvidia stated that neither national security nor its secrets are compromised despite the ongoing investigations.

Trump said he thinks Huang is a fine person when asked about the incident. Huang has frequent access to Trump and has traveled to China with the president. The House of Representatives has requested a closed-door briefing from Huang regarding his interactions with the suspected Chinese intelligence asset. The U.S. currently restricts exports of advanced chips to China, including Nvidia’s top models.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that the U.S. homeless population decreased by more than 6% in 2025. This marks the second consecutive year of decline. Comedian Russell Brand is scheduled to face a London court on Monday to announce his punishment after a jury convicted him on three counts of sexual assault and one count of rape. Brand has denied all charges. Pope Leo XIV arrived in South America on Friday for a 12-day trip across three countries, which is his first major overseas visit since undergoing lung cancer surgery.