Republican Calls Miller “Amateur” Destroying Trump Legacy

A retiring Republican senator is publicly demanding President Trump fire his own White House Deputy Chief of Staff, exposing a dangerous rift within the GOP over immigration enforcement that threatens to undermine the very border security mandate voters delivered.

Story Snapshot

Sen. Thom Tillis calls for Stephen Miller’s removal, calling him an “amateur” who’s destroying Trump’s immigration legacy
Criticism follows shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis
Trump’s immigration approval has dropped 10 points underwater, turning a 2024 strength into a political liability
Tillis previously demanded DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation before she was fired on February 12, 2026

GOP Senator Breaks Ranks Over Immigration Failures

Sen. Thom Tillis appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation and CNN’s State of the Union on February 15, 2026, launching unprecedented attacks on White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. The North Carolina Republican demanded Miller’s immediate removal, stating that Miller and former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem are “not taking care of” President Trump’s legacy on border security. Tillis characterized both officials as “amateurs” who “don’t look around corners,” marking a rare instance of a Republican senator publicly calling for firings within Trump’s inner circle. This represents a troubling fracture in conservative unity at a critical moment for immigration enforcement.

Minneapolis Shootings Expose Rushed Enforcement Operations

The criticism stems from shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by immigration agents during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis in early 2026. Miller and Noem labeled the victims as “terrorists” and falsely claimed Pretti brandished a weapon, when he actually carried it legally in a holster. Stephen Miller had set aggressive arrest targets of 3,000 daily deportations in May 2025, forcing ICE to slash training requirements to meet unrealistic quotas. This rushed approach prioritized numbers over accuracy, resulting in American citizens being caught in enforcement actions. White House border czar Tom Homan announced Operation Metro Surge would end the week following Tillis’s interviews, tacitly acknowledging operational problems.

Miller’s Outsized Influence Undermines Cabinet Independence

Tillis specifically criticized Miller’s “outsized influence” over Cabinet officials, stating “Stephen Miller speaking first and asking questions later is a big problem.” The senator pointed to Miller’s pattern of embarrassments, including promoting Greenland acquisition schemes and spreading immigration conspiracies, as evidence of poor judgment. Tillis contrasted Miller’s approach with incoming DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, whom he praised as more data-driven and independent. An Inspector General letter documented ten instances of DHS misleading the public under Noem’s leadership, suggesting Miller’s influence corrupted departmental integrity. This concentration of power in an unelected advisor represents the kind of Washington swamp behavior that frustrates conservative voters who elected Trump to drain it.

Political Fallout Threatens Conservative Immigration Mandate

Trump’s approval on immigration has plummeted to ten points underwater according to a February 15, 2026 NBC poll, transforming what was a decisive electoral strength in 2024 into a significant political liability. Tillis, who announced his retirement after voting against Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” in 2025, warned that Miller and Noem “destroyed” the GOP’s advantage on border security. The senator’s freedom as a retiring member allows him to voice concerns shared by other Republicans who fear electoral consequences from botched enforcement operations. While 187 House Democrats cosponsored articles of impeachment against Noem before her firing, the real danger comes from eroding public confidence in immigration enforcement itself, which undermines support for necessary border security measures conservatives fought years to implement.

This internal GOP conflict exposes the consequences of prioritizing optics over operational competence in immigration policy. When enforcement actions result in American citizens being shot and falsely labeled terrorists, it provides ammunition to open-borders advocates who oppose all immigration enforcement. Conservatives need effective, professional leadership that secures the border without creating unnecessary victims or scandals that damage public support. Tillis’s criticism, while uncomfortable for Trump loyalists, raises legitimate questions about whether Miller’s ideological zeal has compromised the practical execution of policies most Americans support. The appointment of Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary offers potential course correction, but only if he maintains independence from White House advisors whose track record demonstrates poor operational judgment.