As a rule, when presidents shake up their teams after a midterm election loss, the overhauls are designed to be constructive or corrective, responsive to the circumstances and conducive to future governance.

On Friday afternoon, Donald Trump went in the opposite direction, elevating Stephen Miller to serve as his latest White House chief of staff. The move left little doubt about the president’s plans to be more confrontational, more aggressive and more resistant to cooperation with the soon-to-be Democratic-led Congress.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who’s likely to become the next House speaker, summarized the Democratic perspective on the announcement in three sentences: “Stephen Miller is a dangerous xenophobe and reckless extremist who has American blood on his hands. His presence in government should be eradicated like a malignant tumor. Fire him today.”

Just as notable, however, were the reactions from several Republicans.

When Fox News, for example, asked one House Republican about Miller’s promotion, the lawmaker “replied simply with a facepalm emoji.” Around the same time, when Politico asked a GOP member about the president’s personnel move, the congressional Republican responded, “Please tell me you’re lying to me right now, just to get a reaction.”

Those reactions were amusing, but they reflected a serious sentiment within the party. Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana was even willing to share his concerns with a national television audience. The Washington Post reported:

Rep. Marlin Stutzman said it was a “bad mistake” for President Donald Trump to replace Susie Wiles as chief of staff by elevating Miller, who has been the face of some of the Trump administration’s most controversial policies. […]

Stutzman’s comments were a rare rebuke of Trump from a member of his own party as Republicans reel from a sweeping defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections. The promotion for Miller, who as White House deputy chief of staff orchestrated the immigration crackdown, strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and other controversial policies, sends the wrong signal, Stutzman said.

“He’s not liked out here in the Midwest by people,” the GOP lawmaker said, referring to Miller. “They don’t like his tone. They believe he didn’t offer a better solution on immigration.”

Those on-air comments a couple of days after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina also appeared on CNN and called Miller’s promotion a “colossal mistake.” The retiring senator added that the president “needs to rethink” the decision.

That almost certainly won’t happen, although such public criticisms help capture both the scope of Trump’s mistake and indicate that the weakened president is no longer scaring GOP members into silence.

This post updates our related earlier coverage.

The post Even some Republicans see Stephen Miller’s promotion as a serious mistake appeared first on MS NOW.

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