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The North Carolina senator did not stop there. When Tapper asked whether he believed Miller should be removed from his role, Tillis delivered a blunt response that left little room for interpretation.
“Oh, of course I do.”
Tillis went on to claim that Miller’s role inside the administration extends beyond communication and messaging, asserting that the adviser has significant influence over Cabinet-level operations. According to Tillis, that influence may be preventing senior officials from fully executing their own agendas.
“He’s not worried about substance. He’s more worried about form,” Tillis continued. “But I also think that he has an outsized influence over the operations of the Cabinet. And I believe we’ve got qualified Cabinet members there that sometimes are doing less than what they want to because of his direction and his outsized influence.”
“He’s a big problem in this administration, he has been from the beginning,” he added.
The criticism immediately raised eyebrows across Washington and within Republican political circles. Miller is widely regarded by the GOP grassroots as one of the most loyal and effective members of Trump’s team, particularly when it comes to immigration enforcement and border security. Many supporters credit him with helping craft policies aimed at combating illegal immigration, stopping the flow of fentanyl across the border, and strengthening national security.
For many conservatives, the timing of Tillis’ attack is particularly notable. The senator has already announced that he will not seek reelection, which has fueled speculation that his public comments represent a parting shot as he prepares to exit the Senate.
Inside Republican circles, some observers see the criticism less as a policy disagreement and more as a familiar Washington pattern. When lawmakers no longer face voters, they often feel freer to challenge figures who remain popular with the party’s base.
The White House, meanwhile, has pointed to strong support for Miller from other Republican leaders. In fact, prominent GOP figures have recently gone out of their way to defend the adviser and his role in helping implement the administration’s priorities.
Last month, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina rallied more than a dozen Republican senators in a public show of support for Miller, making it clear that the adviser remains firmly positioned inside Trump’s orbit.
“People can disagree with Stephen on rhetoric, and they can disagree with him on policy, but the question is, ‘Is Stephen Miller in jeopardy in Trump World?’ Absolutely not,” Graham said.
Other Republican lawmakers have echoed similar sentiments, arguing that Miller’s leadership has played a major role in delivering on key promises that helped propel Trump back into the White House.
Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick praised the results of the administration’s policies and credited Miller as one of the figures behind them.
“Because of him and other members of the president’s team, critical priorities like stopping deadly fentanyl, unleashing America’s energy, and bringing much-needed economic relief for working families are now a reality for Pennsylvania,” McCormick said.
For now, the clash underscores an ongoing divide between establishment Republicans in Washington and the populist movement that forms the backbone of Trump’s political coalition. While critics like Tillis continue to raise concerns about the tone and direction of the administration’s messaging, many Republican voters see figures like Miller as essential to carrying out the agenda they elected Trump to deliver.
And judging by the public backing from several influential GOP senators, Miller’s position within the administration appears far from threatened. If anything, Tillis’ remarks may only reinforce how deeply the battle over the future direction of the Republican Party continues to shape Washington politics.
