Top White House staffer leaves after Stephen Miller is promoted to chief of staff

Key Points:

• Richard Walters, deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, is leaving the Trump administration following Stephen Miller's appointment as chief of staff, making Walters the first senior staffer to depart after Susie Wiles's exit.
• Walters, a close ally of Wiles, praised Miller's new team and expressed his intention to support the administration from outside the White House, while Miller acknowledged Walters' contributions and plans to continue working with him externally.
• The staff changes come after the GOP's poor midterm election results, which led to Trump losing control of Congress and reportedly caused internal tensions, including Trump's anger toward Wiles.
• In a recent interview, Trump hinted at possible staff changes following the midterm losses and admitted that his immigration crackdown might have been "too tough," though Miller's promotion suggests hardline immigration policies will likely continue.
• Miller, known for his strict immigration stance, has faced criticism even from family members, including his uncle who accused him of hypocrisy for policies that contradict their own immigrant family history.