Leon Panetta, former White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton, has voiced strong concerns about Stephen Miller’s role in the Trump administration, suggesting the top aide may believe he—not the president—is truly “running the show.”
Speaking on MS NOW’s “State of Play,” Panetta emphasized that a chief of staff’s duty is to execute the president’s agenda—not dictate policy. “The chief of staff is not the president of the United States,” he said. “Steve Miller has to understand that he is not running the show. The president of the United States is running the show.”
A Warning Over Miller’s Immigration Stance
Panetta pointed to Miller’s hardline record on immigration as a key cause for concern. “I’m really concerned because of his commitment to trying to really undermine immigration and push deportation,” he said. Miller’s aggressive approach, including his recent comments on investigations, suggests he may think “he’s in a position that determines policy,” Panetta warned.
Miller, a longtime architect of Trump’s immigration restrictions, has been one of the administration’s most polarizing figures. Critics accuse him of exerting outsized influence, particularly on policies like the travel ban and family separations.
Will Miller Fall in Line—Or Overstep?
“The chief of staff is there to run the staff and to basically follow the direction of the president,” Panetta stressed. But Miller’s aggressive policy instincts raise doubts about whether he will remain in that supportive role—or continue pushing his own agenda.
Panetta, who served under Clinton, knows firsthand the delicate balance required of a chief of staff. “We’ll see if Miller can behave as a true chief of staff,” he said, “but I have some real concerns.”
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/11/12/panetta-concerned-stephen-miller-thinks-hes-running-the-show-not-trump/