Richard Walters exits White House as Stephen Miller's shakeup begins

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Richard Walters is out. He handed in his resignation Friday, and the exit was amicable, according to a person familiar with the matter — the first big name to fall in what's expected to be a broader staff shakeup as Stephen Miller prepares to take the chief of staff's chair.

The departure is a changing-of-the-guard moment. Walters was one of outgoing chief of staff Susie Wiles' closest political lieutenants, a relationship that stretches back more than a decade. His exit — reported by Axios — signals that Miller's crew is poised to slide into more powerful West Wing roles.

The timing stacks up fast. Trump picked Miller on Friday to replace Wiles, a move that came after Republicans' midterm losses. Hours later, Walters' resignation landed.

Walters went out gracious. 'Serving President Trump has been the honor of a lifetime and I will always be thankful to Susie Wiles for the opportunity,' he told Axios. Miller returned the praise, calling him an invaluable member of the White House who helped deliver some of the administration's biggest victories.

Miller also made clear Walters isn't disappearing. 'While he will be leaving us, Richard will continue to help from the outside,' Miller said, adding the administration will keep working 'with all of our strength' for Trump.

Walters brings a deep resume to whatever comes next. He was the longest-tenured chief of staff in Republican National Committee history, worked on all three of Trump's presidential campaigns, ran Trump's 2025 inaugural committee as executive director, and joined the White House in May. Now he's watching the Miller era from the outside — though by his own account, not too far outside.