On Friday, Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier offered his take on President Donald Trump’s latest move, asserting that it is a clear sign that the administration won’t be looking to cut any deals once the Democrats assume their majorities. According to Baier, Trump’s decision to replace Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with longtime advisor Stephen Miller means the president is “girding up for battle” in the face of coming Democratic investigations.
Baier noted that Wiles had admitted in private conversations that she knew a changeup might be coming following the GOP’s historic midterm loss, and it had been rumored for weeks that she may be departing due in part to her role at the helm of the White House’s failed campaign strategy. Miller is one of the chief architects of Trump’s mass deportation policies and among the administration’s foremost proponents of the aggressive ICE tactics voters just cited as a key reason for rebuking the president in the midterms. His antagonistic approach to politics clashes strongly with a public that just voted against further chaos.
According to Baier, Miller’s appointment means that Trump is preparing for war against the Democrats. “It signals that the president is girding for a battle,” explained Baier. “Stephen Miller is not the guy that you're reaching out to Democrats with to make a deal on immigration. I'm not saying that a deal on immigration might not come, but Stephen Miller is the person who has driven a lot of the immigration and deportation rules that we saw up until this point, some that were not in favor by the voters on Tuesday.”
Baier notes that insiders have mentioned that behind the scenes, Miller “works a lot of different levers and has his hands in a lot, and had his hands in a lot already,” and that he is “the guy that knows how executive orders work the best.” That’s important to Trump because for the next two years, executive orders will be his only means of taking action without collaborating with Congress. According to Baier, Miller was “running point” on the flurry of executive orders Trump issued in the first 100 days of his second administration.
Shortly after Miller’s appointment was announced, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) – a close ally of Trump’s who has been involved with his efforts to conquer Greenland – went on Fox to discuss the news, and agreed that Miller was placed in the new role largely in preparation for fighting Democratic investigations. “He understands the legal pitfalls,” asserted Landry, saying Miller was a “great choice.” While other MAGA allies took to social media to celebrate Miller’s ascension, many commentators were not as thrilled.
“Stephen Miller isn't stupid,” posted National Review senior contributor Dan McLaughlin. “He is, however, profoundly foolish & out of touch with political reality. You don't put him in charge of an expanding empire. You put him in charge of a bunker.” And Miles Taylor, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff in Homeland Security during Trump’s first term, warned, “I spent two years working with Stephen Miller. His appointment as White House chief of staff is among the most dangerous personnel decisions in the history of our republic. I say that without reservation.”