President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday appointed Susie Wiles, one of the two key campaign managers behind his election victory, as White House chief of staff. Wiles will make history as the first woman to serve in this role.
This appointment marks the first in a series of expected staffing announcements as Trump prepares for his return to the White House on January 20.
The US Vice President-elect JD Vance confirmed her selection. “The 45th and 47th President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump announced today that Susan Summerall Wiles, the winning Campaign Manager for President Trump’s highly successful 2024 Campaign for President, will be named President Trump’s White House Chief of Staff,” Vance wrote in a post on X.
During the campaign, Wiles demonstrated exceptional ability in managing Trump’s behaviour, achieving this through earned respect and demonstrating the benefits of following her guidance rather than disregarding it.
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,” Trump said in a statement.
“It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” he added.
Who is Susie Wiles
- Susie Wiles, a veteran
Republican strategist based in Florida, has managed several significantpolitical campaigns . She led Trump’s Florida campaigns in both 2016 and 2020, and played a pivotal role in Ron DeSantis’ successful 2018 gubernatorial race. - Wiles is the daughter of Pat Summerall, the renowned football player and sportscaster. Summerall played in the NFL for ten years and went on to announce 16 Super Bowls before his passing in 2013.
- She worked alongside co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, with orchestrating the most disciplined and sophisticated campaign of Trump’s three presidential runs.
- Her previous successes also include steering Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign for Florida governor and a brief leadership role in Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential bid.
- During the 1970s, she served in New York Representative Jack Kemp’s Washington office. Subsequently, she took positions in Ronald Reagan’s campaign and worked as a scheduler in his White House.
- Later, she relocated to Florida, where she provided counsel to two Jacksonville mayors and worked alongside Representative Tillie Fowler.
- Her career progressed into Florida’s competitive political landscape, where she earned recognition for helping businessman Rick Scott secure the governorship.
- Wiles earned widespread recognition both within and beyond Trump’s close circle for orchestrating his most organised and effective campaign to date.
- As the frontrunner for the position, she maintained a low profile, declining to speak during Trump’s victory celebration in the early hours of Wednesday.
- She strategically avoided the formal campaign manager title, considering Trump’s previous history of making frequent changes in that role.
Trump’s staff recognised Wiles’ unique ability to work with his temperament and decision-making style whilst maintaining his authentic approach.
During campaign events, Trump frequently acknowledged Wiles’ contributions, highlighting what others had described to him as his “best-run campaign.”
“She’s incredible. Incredible,” he said at a Milwaukee rally earlier this month.
Trump’s first administration saw four chiefs of staff, including one serving in an acting capacity for a year, reflecting significant staff turnover. Several senior advisers were cast out in his first term, either due to Trump’s resistance to management or because of ideological conflicts within the divided West Wing.
This appointment represents Trump’s initial significant decision as president-elect, potentially setting the tone for his incoming administration as he assembles the team to oversee federal government operations. Despite limited federal government experience, Wiles maintains a strong working relationship with the president-elect.
The chief of staff position is “absolutely critical to an effective White House,” according to Chris Whipple, author of the book “The Gatekeepers”, which examines how this role influences presidencies.
“At the end of the day the most important thing is telling the president what he doesn’t want to hear,” Whipple said.
“On the plus side, she’s shown that she can manage Trump, that she works with him and can sometimes tell him hard truths, and that’s really important. On the minus side, she really has no White House experience and hasn’t really worked in Washington in 40 years. And that’s a real disadvantage,” he added.