How Donald Trump Could ‘Become a Democrat’: President Donald Trump’s new White House Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller, is about to be put into a difficult position after Trump signaled that he could back down from his administration’s mass deportation of illegal immigrants, just days after he promoted Miller — an immigration hardliner — to run the Oval Office.
Trump announced on Friday that Miller would serve as the new White House Chief of Staff after Susie Wiles, who had served in the role for nearly two years, was let go following the Republican Party’s catastrophic defeat in the midterm elections.
President Donald J. Trump boards Marine One on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., Friday, July 17, 2026, en route Joint Base Andrews, Maryland for a trip to New York. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)
Donald J. Trump at Summit Creative Commons
While the promotion of Miller — long seen to be the most anti-immigration figure in Trump’s administration — was taken by many as a sign that the president would be devoting his final years in the White House to ramping up the deportation of illegal migrants, matters were complicated after Trump told “60 Minutes” that his deportation program had been “too tough” and that he would like to work with the Democratic Party on immigration moving forward.
Trump Says He Wants to Work With Democrats
Asked, “What is one thing you would like to work with a Democratic majority on?” the president replied, “I’d love to do something on immigration.”
Despite polls clearly showing that the Republican Party lost the midterm elections due to Trump’s unpopular Iran war and its subsequent economic consequences, including rising gas prices and the cost of living, the president insisted during his interview with “60 Minutes” that it was his immigration policies that had “hurt” the party electorally.
“I think it was too tough. I think it might be too tough. I think ultimately that hurt me,” he said, before suggesting that a deal with the Democrats could allow illegal migrants working in landscaping, hotels, and other industries to stay in the country permanently.
Trump’s U-turn on immigration shocked many supporters on social media, who protested that the president was betraying his voters once again.
Stephen Miller Could Be Forced to Choose Between His Loyalty to Trump and His Legacy
More crucially, however, Trump’s U-turn could put Miller in a difficult position — forcing the White House chief of staff to choose between his loyalty to the president and his own reputation and legacy.
Miller has repeatedly rejected calls for an “amnesty” of illegal migrants, and in 2024 said that such a move would be “an impeachable offense.”
“The correct process for illegal aliens: Are you here illegally? Deport,” declared Miller in 2025, while just last month he warned that “the long-term cost to taxpayers of financially supporting just one illegal immigrant family easily exceeds one million dollars.”
Trump Previously Warned the Republican Party Against Backing Amnesty
President Trump himself has also repeatedly rejected calls for an illegal migrant amnesty, warning against it back in 2013.
Despite the president making it clear in his interview with “60 Minutes” that he was open to a deal with Democrats to allow illegal immigrants to stay in the country, the White House denied on Sunday that such a deal could be considered amnesty.
“Wrong. The word ‘amnesty’ was never even said in this entire exchange,” the White House declared in a social media post, prompting Republican voters to accuse the Trump administration of gaslighting them with semantics.
Donald Trump Becoming a ‘Democrat’
While a majority of voters now overwhelmingly favor the Democratic Party over the Republican Party to handle such issues as the economy, the cost of living, health care, and artificial intelligence, immigration has been routinely seen by voters as the Republican Party’s strongest issue, according to polls.
Newsweek senior editor Shane Croucher predicted that after the Republican Party’s midterm defeat, Trump could opt to serve out the rest of his term as a Democrat in all but name.
“Trump can choose to be a lame duck fighting against the blue tide—or a lame Democrat that floats on it,” suggested Croucher, who pointed to the president’s history as a Democrat, his willingness to work with Democratic officials, and his lack of options under a Democrat-controlled House and Senate.
About the Author: Charlie Nash
Charlie Nash is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The Spectator, Mediaite, New Statesman, and the American Conservative, among other major publications. The Washington Post, Fox News, the Daily Beast, MS NOW, NewsNation, Hannity, and more have featured his reporting. You can follow Charlie on X at @CharlieNash and on LinkedIn.
