Sen. Thom Tillis wants White House adviser Stephen Miller gone

Sen. Thom Tillis says it’s time for White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to go.

The North Carolina Republican said Sunday that Mr. Miller’s influence has hurt the Trump administration and the GOP’s broader image, and he hopes Mr. Miller will be pushed aside now that Sen. Markwayne Mullin has been tapped to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“I think Stephen Miller’s demonstrated he too is out of his depth, and I think Markwayne will learn from that,” Mr. Tillis said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Mr. Miller has served as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser since 2025.

Asked whether he wants Mr. Miller removed, Mr. Tillis didn’t hesitate: “Of course I do,” he said.

“I believe we have got qualified Cabinet members there that sometimes are doing less than what they want to because of his direction and his outsized influence,” Mr. Tillis said. “He’s a big problem in this administration. He has been from the beginning.”

Mr. Trump announced last week that he had chosen Mr. Mullin of Oklahoma to lead the Department of Homeland Security, signaling the end of Ms. Noem’s checkered tenure.

Ms. Noem oversaw some of the administration’s biggest immigration achievements, including what officials say were the lowest levels of illegal border crossings ever recorded. She was also in charge when two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal immigration agents.

Mr. Mullin has been a steadfast advocate for Mr. Trump.

Mr. Tillis said Ms. Noem’s troubles were partly the result of taking cues from Mr. Miller.

“If the Markwayne Mullin I know in the Senate … goes over to Homeland Security, then he’s going to tell Stephen Miller to stay in his lane and let him run the agency,” he said.

The Washington Times has requested comment from the White House.