GOP senator criticizes Stephen Miller’s ‘outsized influence,’ says it’s time he joins Kristi Noem in the trash

Thom Tillis, a Republican Senator from North Carolina, has demanded that Stephen Miller be fired. His call comes as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem prepares to leave her Cabinet-level position, making Tillis’s comments particularly noteworthy.

Tillis stated that Miller, who has been a long-time advisor to President Trump since his first presidential campaign, is “out of his depth.” The senator also believes Miller has been “repeatedly responsible for embarrassments” for the administration. When directly asked if Miller should be relieved of his duties, Tillis’s answer was clear: “Oh, of course I do.”

He elaborated on his concerns, explaining that he believes Miller is “not worried about substance” and is “more worried about form.” According to The Hill, Tillis feels that many qualified Cabinet members might be doing “less than what they want to because of his direction and his outsized influence over the operations of the Cabinet.” 

As Tillis approaches retirement, he’s switching all his filters off

Tillis has previously spoken out against both Miller and Kristi Noem and their statements, after federal immigration officers fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Tillis has also specifically taken issue with Miller’s consistent push to increase immigration arrests. Recently, Miller also made waves about his redefinition of “America First,” painting a dire image of what Trump’s policies mean to his staff. 

As with Miller, Tillis hasn’t been shy about sharing his opinions and criticisms about key aspects of the government. Before the Iran attacks, he voiced concerns about Kushner and Witkoff’s involvement in peace talks around the world. Now, with Kristi Noem’s departure, he has also stepped forward with hope as Senator Markwayne Mullin, another Republican, is preparing for his confirmation hearings to take the helm at DHS. 

Tillis expressed confidence in Mullin, believing his Senate colleague “will be independent” and “driven by data” as he implements Trump’s deportation agenda. This is a crucial distinction for Tillis, who seems to value a data-driven approach over what he perceives as Miller’s focus on “form.”

Tillis is optimistic that Mullin “will leverage law enforcement resources, expertise, people like [White House border czar] Tom Homan to get things right.” He also made it clear that if Mullin doesn’t meet these expectations, he and his colleagues “would hold him accountable.” The retiring senator added that he has “a lot of confidence in my friend” and is “looking forward to him getting this department under control.”