Republicans expect a more combative Trump with Miller
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day (South Africa)
Trump administration officials and Republicans believe Stephen Miller’s promotion to head the presidential staff will strengthen the White House’s combative line. They particularly expect tougher immigration policy and more tensions with Democratic lawmakers, according to Reuters cited by Business Day.
Stephen Miller’s promotion to chief of staff to Donald Trump is expected to lead the White House to maintain a hard line on immigration and intensify cultural and political clashes during the final two years of the term, according to Trump administration officials, Republicans and experts cited by Reuters.
These officials believe hesitant Republicans will face greater pressure to remain aligned with the president and that companies could have more difficulty making their interests heard by the White House. Dan Eberhart, a Donald Trump donor and energy executive, believes the administration will adopt a more confrontational approach after the midterm elections, Reuters reports.
Stephen Miller, 41, played a central role in the restrictive immigration policy of Donald Trump’s first and second terms. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in October indicates that 37% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of immigration, compared with 50% when he took office. Four US immigration officials, however, told Reuters that the quotas imposed by the administration showed no sign of being reduced.
The expected new direction comes after the Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections, which altered the balance of political power in Washington. On 6 November, Donald Trump appointed Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, after the midterm election.
