Richard Walters Leaves White House Ahead of Miller’s Chief of Staff Role
Richard Walters, a deputy White House chief of staff and longtime ally of Susie Wiles, is leaving the Trump administration as Wiles prepares to move to President Donald Trump’s political operation and Stephen Miller takes over as chief of staff. Trump announced Miller’s promotion on November 6, the same day Walters offered his resignation.
Walters said serving Trump had been a great honor and thanked Wiles for the opportunity. He also said he expected to support the president’s agenda from outside the administration. A person familiar with the departure described it as amicable.
Miller said Walters had made an important contribution to the White House and would continue helping the administration. Walters had held his deputy role since May and previously managed the organizing team for the inauguration of Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He also campaigned for Trump in each of his three presidential runs and served longer as chief of staff at the Republican National Committee than anyone before him.
Miller’s promotion follows the Republican Party’s losses of both chambers of Congress to Democrats in the midterm elections. Another departure connected to the change is Miller’s wife, Katie, who said she would stop recording new episodes of her podcast because of the time commitment and her husband’s new role.
Miller’s Rise Brings a Wiles Ally’s Exit From the White House
Stephen Miller’s move to the White House chief of staff role is already reshaping the administration: Richard Walters, a deputy chief of staff and longtime ally of Susie Wiles, offered his resignation on November 6, the day Trump announced Miller’s promotion.
Miller has faced backlash over his uncompromising positions and designed Trump’s mass deportation policy. Walters’ exit comes as Wiles leaves the chief of staff position for Trump’s political operation, taking a close ally out of the White House just as Miller prepares to lead its staff.
Walters said he would continue supporting the president’s agenda from outside the administration and thanked Wiles for giving him the opportunity to serve. A person familiar with the departure described it as amicable. Miller, in turn, praised Walters’ work and said he would remain helpful to the administration.
The shift comes after Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate to Democrats in the midterm elections. Miller’s elevation is the first major personnel move described since his promotion, while his wife, Katie, has also said she will stop making podcast episodes because of the time demands of his new role.
Walters Leaves White House, Plans to Support Trump From Outside
Richard Walters is leaving the White House after serving as deputy chief of staff since May, but he says he will keep helping President Donald Trump’s administration from outside. His resignation came on November 6, the day Trump announced Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as chief of staff.
Walters thanked Wiles for the chance to serve and expressed confidence in the team Miller is building to carry out the president’s agenda. A person familiar with the departure characterized it as amicable. Miller praised Walters’ contribution and said he would continue to assist the administration.
Walters is a veteran Republican operative who campaigned for Trump in each of his three presidential runs and managed the organizing team for the inauguration of Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He also served longer as chief of staff at the Republican National Committee than anyone before him.
Miller’s promotion follows Republicans’ losses of both chambers of Congress to Democrats in the midterm elections. Walters’ departure is the first major staffing change since the announcement; Katie Miller has separately said she will stop recording her podcast, citing the demands of her husband’s new role and the need to raise their four children.
Reported by Fox News, The Daily Beast, Semafor, MSNBC.
