elected president Donald Trump Appointed Thursday Susie WilesHe is one of two key campaign managers behind his election victory White House Chief of Staff. Wiles will make history as the first woman to serve in this role.
The appointment is the first in a series of expected personnel announcements as Trump prepares to return to the White House on January 20.
US Vice President-elect JD Vance His selection was confirmed. “Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, announced today that Susan Summerle Wiles, the winning campaign manager for President Trump’s highly successful 2024 campaign, will be named President Trump’s White House Chief of Staff,” Vance. X wrote in a post.
During the campaign, Wiles showed an extraordinary ability to manage Trump’s behavior, achieving it through earned respect and demonstrating the benefits of following his direction rather than ignoring it.
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again,” Trump said in a statement.
“It is a great honor to have Susie as the first female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt she will make our country proud,” he added.
Who is Susie Wiles?
- Susie Wiles, a veteran
Republican strategist Based in Florida, has managed many importantPolitical campaigns . He led Trump’s Florida campaigns in both 2016 and 2020, and played a pivotal role in Ron DeSantis’ successful 2018 gubernatorial run. - Wiles is the daughter of famous football player and sportscaster Pat Summerall. Summerall played in the NFL for ten years and went on to announce 16 Super Bowls before his passing in 2013.
- She worked with co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, orchestrating the most disciplined and sophisticated campaign of Trump’s three presidential runs.
- His previous successes include Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign for Florida governor and a brief leadership role in Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential bid.
- During the 1970s, he served in the Washington office of New York Representative Jack Kemp. Later, she took a position in Ronald Reagan’s campaign and worked as a scheduler in his White House.
- Later, she moved to Florida, where she advised two Jacksonville mayors and worked with Representative Tillie Fowler.
- Her career progressed in Florida’s competitive political scene, where she gained recognition for helping businessman Rick Scott secure the governorship.
- Wiles earned widespread recognition both inside and outside of Trump’s inner circle for orchestrating his most organized and effective campaign to date.
- As a front-runner for the post, he maintained a low profile, declining to speak during Trump’s victory celebration in the early hours of Wednesday.
- She strategically avoided the title of formal campaign manager, considering Trump’s previous history of frequently changing roles.
Trump staffers have recognized Wiles’ unique ability to work with temperament and decision-making style while maintaining his authentic approach.
At campaign events, Trump repeatedly acknowledged Wiles’ contributions, highlighting what others described as his “great 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 one year, reflecting significant personnel turnover. Several senior advisers were fired during his first term, either because of Trump’s resistance to management or because of ideological conflicts within the divided West Wing.
The appointment represents Trump’s first major decision as president-elect, potentially setting the tone for his incoming administration as he assembles a team to oversee the operations of the federal government. Despite limited federal government experience, Wiles maintains a strong working relationship with the president-elect.
The chief of staff position is “critical to an effective White House,” according to Chris Whipple, author of “The Gatekeepers,” which examines how the role affects presidents.
“At the end of the day the most important thing is to tell the president what he doesn’t want to hear,” Whipple said.
“On the plus side, she can manage Trump, work with him and sometimes tell him the hard truth, and that’s really important. On the minus side, she doesn’t really have any White House experience and hasn’t really worked. 40 years in Washington and that’s a real disadvantage. Yes,” he added.