Ex-Aide Sarah Matthews Slams Stephen Miller as Potential Susie Wiles Replacement

POLICY WIRE — Washington, United States — Former White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews has strongly criticized the potential appointment of Stephen Miller as President Donald Trump’s next chief of staff, labeling the idea a terrifying prospect.

Speculation has intensified across Washington regarding the future of current chief of staff Susie Wiles, who masterminded the 2024 election victory. Reports indicate her position could be vulnerable following the short-lived tenure of press secretary Katie Zacharia and growing concerns over a possible Republican midterms defeat.

According to Politico, the president has been quietly contacting associates to evaluate potential successors for Wiles. The names circulating in these discussions include deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, former House speaker Kevin McCarthy, and New York Yankees executive Randy Levine.

During an interview with MediasTouch journalist Jack Cocchiarella, Matthews suggested that Trump appears frustrated with negative headlines and administration trajectory, leading him to direct blame toward Wiles. While noting that the president has publicly stated he is sticking with Wiles, Matthews emphasized that his behind-the-scenes outreach tells a different story.

Matthews described the prospect of Miller stepping into the role as exceptionally dangerous, contrasting Wiles with what she characterized as Miller’s extreme approach. She warned that during the final two years of a lame-duck presidency, a figure like Miller steering the administration creates a deeply unsettling scenario.

In response to the circulating reports, a White House spokesperson strongly defended Wiles and dismissed the media coverage. The spokesperson asserted that anonymous sources lack accurate information and maintained that President Trump leads a unified team dedicated entirely to his America First agenda rather than political games.

President Trump similarly addressed the rumors by telling Politico that Wiles retains his complete confidence while criticizing the publication for lacking integrity and journalistic standards. Matthews, who stepped down from her White House position following the January 6 Capitol riot, previously testified before the House Select Committee regarding the attack.

Reflecting on her past tenure in the administration, Matthews recalled that Miller occasionally participated in briefing preparations with former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany to offer guidance, though the two were not particularly close. Matthews recently drew additional attention after criticizing the president’s use of artificial intelligence memes on social media.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)