Thom Tillis calls Miller's appointment the worst of all possible choices
Thom TillisRepublican U.S. senator from North Carolina, in an interview on CNN's The Lead
Sen. Thom Tillis reacts to Stephen Miller's appointment as White House chief of staff on CNN's The Lead, November 6, 2026.
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On CNN, Tillis says Republicans lost Hispanic votes in large part over the handling of border and homeland security policy, calls Miller one of the most polarizing figures even among Republicans, and says Trump should rethink a decision he calls a colossal mistake.
“The worst of all possible choices.”
Interview
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Trump names Stephen Miller chief of staff to replace Susie Wiles; Vance praises the choice, Tillis and Democratic leaders condemn it
On November 6, 2026, three days after Democrats won control of Congress in the midterm elections, President Trump named Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. Vice President JD Vance and White House aides praised the choice. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries condemned it.
Source and context
Interview
About this source
Asked by Jake Tapper for his reaction to Miller's appointment, Tillis calls it the worst of all possible choices, ties the Republican losses to border and homeland security policy, and says the president needs to rethink the decision.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Reporting
About this source
Breitbart prints a transcript of Tillis's remarks on CNN's The Lead, in which he calls Miller's appointment the worst of all possible choices and a colossal mistake.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Jake Tapper asks Tillis for his reaction to Trump naming Stephen Miller the new White House chief of staff.
After the quotation
Tillis says Republicans lost Hispanic votes in large part because of the mismanagement of border and homeland security policy, which he calls Miller's two main areas, and asks how someone as divisive as Miller can be the olive branch needed with the new Democratic majorities in Congress. He says the president needs to rethink a decision he calls "a colossal mistake."
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Trump's decision to name Stephen Miller White House chief of staff in place of Susie Wiles. Tillis, a Republican, calls the appointment the worst possible choice and a colossal mistake and urges Trump to rethink it, which condemns the decision.
- Recorded on
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- People and groups discussed
- Donald Trump, Stephen Miller
More from this case
Read the full caseRobert Garcia says Trump is doubling down by promoting Stephen Miller
“Just days after the American people rejected his corrupt and lawless presidency, Donald Trump is doubling down.”Read statement
Hakeem Jeffries calls Stephen Miller a dangerous xenophobe and says he should be fired
“Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands.”Read statement
Chuck Schumer says Trump couldn't have made a worse choice than Stephen Miller
“Stephen Miller is the architect of the most barbaric, inhumane policies of this administration. Trump couldn’t have made a worse choice.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Thom Tillis calls Miller's appointment the worst of all possible choices". First published: 2026-11-07. Last updated: 2026-11-07. https://disputeindex.com/events/8318-on-cnn-tillis-says-republicans-lost-hispanic-votes