Don Bacon Turned on Stephen Miller and Another House Republican Blew Up His Argument
Don Bacon is leaving Congress in January, but he still found time to take a swing at Stephen Miller on his way out.
Trump had just named Miller White House chief of staff, and Bacon claimed Miller "greatly hurt the administration."
Then another House Republican told Fox News something that knocked the legs out from under Bacon's whole argument.
Retiring Don Bacon Lectures the White House on His Way Out
Bacon announced in the summer of 2025 that he wouldn't run for another term.
So the Nebraska Republican is grading the White House's political judgment from the exit door.
Vance and the Freedom Caucus Back Trump's Pick
Bacon is not where the energy on the right is.
Vice President JD Vance praised the appointment, and so did House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth summed it up on X: "Patriots in control."
Karoline Leavitt called Miller the "perfect choice," praising his loyalty, his work ethic, and his ties to the America First movement.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis pointed to his record on border security, crime, and cutting red tape.
Trump himself called Miller "one of my most trusted advisors."
A source close to the White House told The Daily Wire the move tells the base exactly where Trump stands.
Miller has been at Trump's side since the 2016 campaign, writing speeches and building the border agenda from the ground up.
Susie Wiles Steps Aside as Miller Takes Over Monday
Susie Wiles resigned Thursday evening, according to a White House official.
Trump announced the change Friday afternoon before heading to Palm Beach.
Miller, who has served as deputy chief of staff, takes over Monday, November 9.
Wiles isn't going far – Trump said she's moving to his political operation, and he said she "has done a great job!"
Bacon Led a Small Chorus of Republican Critics
Bacon had company in the complaint department.
Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman called the promotion a "Horrible decision."
An anonymous Republican told Fox News he was in "utter disbelief," and one lawmaker answered a request for comment with nothing but a facepalm emoji.
Some said Miller should be fired outright – before he's even spent a day in his new office.
A few grumbled that Miller ignored their warnings that immigration enforcement was hurting them back home.
Boil it all down and the charge is simple – Stephen Miller cost Republicans their seats.
One Republican Admitted Voters Never Heard of Miller
Tucked into the same Fox News report was a confession that wrecks it.
One House Republican conceded Miller wasn't the main reason for the losses – and that most voters back home couldn't tell you who he is.
So which is it?
You can't sink a House majority with a name voters don't recognize.
Trump and his allies have pointed at a different culprit – weak candidates who couldn't close the sale.
That's a harder conversation for members of Congress, because it means looking in the mirror instead of at the West Wing.
Trump Has Shaken Up His Staff After a Midterm Before
Presidents reshuffle the deck after rough midterms all the time.
In 2018, Trump swapped out John Kelly for Mick Mulvaney within weeks of the election.
Ronald Reagan lost the Senate in 1986 and brought in Howard Baker as chief of staff a few months later.
The difference this time is who Trump picked.
Reagan reached for a Senate dealmaker to calm Washington down.
Trump reached for the man Washington hates the most.
Democrats Are Already Lining Up Investigations of Trump's Inner Circle
Trump wants a fighter in that office for a reason.
Fox News Digital reports incoming Democrats are preparing to dig into Trump's business interests, his family, and his allies – and are weighing impeachment of Cabinet officials.
The incoming Democrat Oversight chairman has already put DHS and ICE enforcement on his target list – the border operation Miller built.
For the next two years, the West Wing is going to be under subpoena and under siege.
A chief of staff whose instinct is to make nice with Capitol Hill would get eaten alive.
Miller has spent a decade being called every name in the book by Democrats, the press, and now nervous Republicans – and he hasn't flinched once.
Don Bacon will be back home in Nebraska when that fight starts.
Stephen Miller will be sitting steps from the Oval Office.
Sources:
- Elizabeth Elkind, "House GOP Erupts at Stephen Miller as Trump Elevates Him After Midterm Massacre: 'Megalomaniac,'" Fox News, November 7, 2026.
- Mary Margaret Olohan, "Susie Wiles Out, Stephen Miller In as White House Chief of Staff," The Daily Wire, November 6, 2026.
- Elizabeth Elkind, "Mike Johnson's No. 2 Launches GOP Takeover Bid as House Falls to Democrats," Fox News, November 4, 2026.
- Rachel Aragon, "US Rep. Garcia Outlines Investigative Priorities as Next House Oversight Chair," FOX 11 Los Angeles, November 4, 2026.
