Republican Representative Marlin Stutzman of Indiana said on Sunday that President Donald Trump should fire Stephen Miller instead of promoting him to White House chief of staff, escalating the public split inside the Republican Party over who is to blame for last week's midterm losses. Speaking to CNN's Manu Raju on Inside Politics Sunday, Stutzman called the promotion a "bad mistake" and said the president should be removing the people who ran the losing campaign, not rewarding them.

Key Points

• Rep. Marlin Stutzman told CNN on Sunday, November 8, that Trump made a "bad mistake" promoting Stephen Miller to chief of staff.
• Stutzman said Trump should fire Miller, not promote him: "If your team takes a beating as badly as we took this last week, you have to fire people."
• He said Miller is "not liked out here in the Midwest" and that voters "don't like his tone."
• Stutzman said he will back Rep. Jim Jordan to succeed Rep. Mike Johnson as House Republican leader.
• He would not support impeaching Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying it is Trump's decision whether Hegseth stays.

What Happened

Stutzman appeared on CNN's Inside Politics Sunday on November 8, five days after Democrats swept the November 3 midterm elections, winning control of both the House and the Senate. Asked about Trump's decision to name Miller, 41, as his new chief of staff from Monday, November 9, the Indiana congressman did not hide his frustration.

"If your team takes a beating as badly as we took this last week, you have to fire people. You don't promote those who are, who were in charge of what was supposed to be delivered," Stutzman told host Manu Raju. He added that Miller is "not liked out here in the Midwest by people. They don't like his tone."

The interview was the sharpest public attack yet on Miller from inside the president's own party, and it went further than the criticism aired on Friday, when several House Republicans fumed about the appointment. Stutzman won re-election on Tuesday, but his vote share fell from 65 percent in 2024 to under 55 percent, while Republicans lost dozens of House seats across the country, including one in Indiana.

Background: A Party Searching for Someone to Blame

The midterm results have left Republicans arguing openly about what went wrong. Democrats took the House and the Senate on November 3, with gains in states that have long voted Republican, including Texas, South Carolina and Kansas. Voters cited rising living costs, inflation, immigration policy and the war with Iran.

Inside the House Republican conference, the anger has focused on Miller, the architect of the administration's immigration crackdown. On Friday, Stutzman called the promotion a "horrible decision" and said Miller's immigration positions had cost the party goodwill with Latino voters. Retiring Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska said Miller "greatly hurt the administration and cost us many seats on Tuesday." The White House has defended the appointment, with spokeswoman Lauren Bis calling Miller a key player in the America First agenda.

Why Stutzman Wants Trump to Fire Stephen Miller

Stutzman's argument is about accountability. In his telling, the people who designed and ran the strategy that produced the midterm defeat should face consequences, and promoting the chief architect of that strategy sends the opposite message to voters and to the party's own candidates.

His comment about the Midwest was a warning that the problem is not confined to coastal or swing districts: in the part of the country where Republicans have traditionally been strongest, Miller's approach is unpopular. Lawmakers have said Miller ignored repeated warnings in group meetings that immigration enforcement was backfiring even in deep-red districts.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries made the same demand on Friday, calling Miller "a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist" and telling Trump to "fire him today." Stutzman's intervention is more damaging for the White House because it comes from a Republican who voted for the president's agenda and still won his seat.

Reactions and Quotes

Stutzman's central charge was blunt: "If your team takes a beating as badly as we took this last week, you have to fire people. You don't promote those who are, who were in charge of what was supposed to be delivered."

The congressman also weighed in on the leadership contest now under way. He said he will back Representative Jim Jordan to succeed Representative Mike Johnson as House Republican leader, after Johnson told staff on Wednesday, November 4, that he will not run for election as House minority leader.

On another flashpoint, Stutzman drew a line. He said he would not support calls to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying it is Trump's decision whether Hegseth stays in the job. The White House has not responded directly to Stutzman's Sunday interview.

Why It Matters

The interview matters because it shows the Republican blame game moving from private complaints to open, named opposition. When a sitting Republican congressman goes on CNN and tells the president to fire his incoming chief of staff, it signals that the party's leadership question is now inseparable from the question of who caused the midterm defeat.

It also matters for Miller's first days in the job. A chief of staff needs the trust of the president's party in Congress, and Miller starts on Monday with a wing of that party publicly questioning his appointment, just as Democrats prepare oversight investigations.

What Happens Next

Miller becomes chief of staff on Monday, November 9, regardless of the criticism, and Susie Wiles moves to the Trump Political Operation. The House Republican leadership contest will unfold in the coming weeks, with Jordan's candidacy, now backed publicly by Stutzman, watched closely.

Trump has signalled more staffing changes, telling CBS News on Friday that he plans to make "a few changes" to his team. Whether the president answers Stutzman's call to fire Miller, or doubles down on the promotion, will shape the opening weeks of a White House now facing a Democratic Congress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Marlin Stutzman say about Stephen Miller?
On CNN's Inside Politics Sunday on November 8, Stutzman said Trump made a "bad mistake" promoting Miller to chief of staff, and that the president should fire him instead.

Who is Marlin Stutzman?
He is the Republican congressman for Indiana who won re-election on November 3, 2026, although his vote share fell from 65 percent in 2024 to under 55 percent. Read more: House Republicans erupt over Stephen Miller's promotion.

When does Stephen Miller become chief of staff?
Miller, 41, takes over as White House chief of staff on Monday, November 9, 2026, replacing Susie Wiles, who moves to the Trump Political Operation.

Who does Stutzman back for House Republican leader?
He said he will back Representative Jim Jordan to succeed Representative Mike Johnson, after Johnson told staff on November 4 that he will not run for election as House minority leader.

Does Stutzman want Pete Hegseth impeached?
No. He said he would not support calls to impeach the defence secretary, saying it is Trump's decision whether Hegseth stays. Read more: Walters leaves White House in first major departure under Miller and Jeffries demands Trump fire Miller.