How will the Republicans shift towards 2028? - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Just days after suffering a massive midterm election loss, US President Donald Trump has replaced his Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with the architect of his hardline immigration crackdown Stephen Miller.
Mr Trump thanked Wiles for her service, saying she was moving over to his political operation.
But US media outlets are reporting the president blamed Wiles for the Republican Party's disastrous election result.
So what else will the Republican party be looking to change as they head to the 2028 elections?
Donald Trump has done irreparable damage to the standing of the United States. (Reuters: Evan Vucci)
Josie Sargent: US President Donald Trump has already started making staff changes after the massive midterm election losses by the Republicans. Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been replaced by Stephen Miller, the architect of the Trump administration's hardline immigration crackdown. So what does the midterm defeat mean as the Republican Party looks towards the 2028 election? First, let's look at the decision to appoint Mr Miller to Chief of Staff. Mr Trump said it was time to make a change.
Donald Trump: Stephen's been with me from the beginning. He gets it very good politically and he's a very good man. He'll do a great job, great manager.
Josie Sargent: He thanked Ms Wiles for her service, saying she was moving to his political operation. But US media outlets are reporting the President blamed Ms Wiles for the Republican Party's disastrous election result. In a post on X, Mr Miller said he was honoured and went on to say, Mr Miller is known for his attacks on immigrants and the Democratic Party, which he described in a Fox News interview last year as freaks, weirdos, losers and crazies. More recently, Mr Miller has been a driving force behind mass deportation efforts, pressing leaders in Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to increase arrest targets and publicly telling officers they would have, quote, Kim Hoggart is a former US Republican administration official. She says Mr Miller's appointment is a clear sign the president is on the offensive.
Kim Hoggard: Trump is sending the signal that he's going to fight Congress. He thinks he needs to have a fighter, somebody who will be his advocate. And we know how coarse and aggressive Stephen Miller can be in his rhetoric. And he wants somebody who's going to be putting up the fight to Congress as they start a myriad of investigations into the Trump administration and his family.
Josie Sargent: So how are US politicians reacting to the appointment? The Democratic Party's House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, described Mr Miller as a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands. In a social media post, he said his presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumour. Democratic Congressman Don Beyer says Mr Miller is a controversial figure. It
Don Beyer: means I'm going to go cry for the next half hour. Stephen Miller is probably the single darkest force, the Darth Vader of this country right now, of this presidential leadership.
Josie Sargent: Nebraska Republican Representative Don Bacon publicly criticised the selection of Mr Miller, telling US news outlet ABC that it was a big mistake by the president and he doesn't know of a single Democrat that will work with him. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr praised the choice, calling Mr Miller the strongest Maha supporter in the administration. So more broadly, what direction will the Republican Party take as they head towards the 2028 election? Ms Hoggard says a lot of Republicans are now distancing themselves from Trump.
Kim Hoggard: Whether J.D. Vance, who is very chameleon-like, can convince people that he really is not a Trump supporter, but he is a MAGA supporter. But the other Republicans mentioned Nikki Haley, the former governor of Virginia, Glenn Yunkin, the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp. These are all moderate Republicans, as well as Ron DeSantis in Florida, who may get a look in.
Josie Sargent: She says the political influence of the MAGA movement will also be diminished when Mr Trump's term ends.
Kim Hoggard: Well, once Trump is gone, Trumpism is gone and MAGA is diminished because he is the penultimate leader. There'll always be this very conservative element. It will remain an issue for Republicans to deal with if they want to move more towards the centre.
Josie Sargent: As President Donald Trump and his administration continue to work through the resounding midterm defeat, there'll likely be more shakeups to come.
