President-elect Trump names Susie Wiles as chief of staff, the first woman in the post

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, the de facto manager of his victorious campaign, as his White House chief of staff, the first woman to hold the influential role.

Widely recognized inside and outside Trump’s inner circle for leading what was by far his most disciplined and well-executed campaign, Wiles was seen as the leading candidate for the position. She largely avoided the spotlight and even refused to take the microphone to speak as Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning. She resisted the formal title of campaign manager and avoided becoming a target given Trump’s history of cycling through people in that role.

Wiles’ hiring is Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a crucial test for his incoming administration as he must quickly build the team to help run the massive federal government. Wiles does not bring much federal government experience to the role, but has a close relationship with the president-elect.

On the campaign trail, Wiles was able to do what few others have been able to: help control Trump’s impulses — not by berating him or lecturing him, but by earning his respect and showing him that he had better when he followed her advice than scoffed at it. .

Trump went through four chiefs of staff — including one who served as acting for a year — during his first administration, part of a record staff. Many top aides were kicked out by Trump in his first term, who resented being made to feel bossed around or patronized, while others were caught up in ideological disputes within the factionalized West Wing.

“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 US history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”

Successful chiefs of staff serve as presidential confidantes, helping to carry out a president’s agenda and balancing competing political and policy priorities. They also tend to act as a gatekeeper, helping determine who the president spends his time with and who he talks to — an effort that Trump chafed under in the White House.

The chief of staff is “absolutely critical to an effective White House,” said Chris Whipple, whose book “The Gatekeepers” describes how the role of the chief of staff in the White House shapes and defines a presidency. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is to tell the president what he doesn’t want to hear.”

“On the positive side, she’s shown that she can manage Trump, that she works with him and sometimes can tell him hard truths, and that’s really important,” Whipple said. “On the downside, she really has no White House experience and hasn’t really worked in Washington for 40 years. And that’s a real disadvantage.”

Wiles is a longtime Florida-based Republican strategist who ran Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns in the state and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ successful bid for office in 2018. Before that, she ran Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign for Florida governor and served briefly. as manager of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential campaign.

Chris LaCivita, who along with Wiles served as co-head of the promotion, wrote on X: “So happy and proud of one of the wildest and most loyal fighters I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with!!!”

Wiles was seen by Trump’s aides as someone who could guide his moods and impulses without necessarily restraining him. Trump often referenced Wiles on the campaign trail and publicly praised her leadership for what he said he was often told was his “best-run campaign.”

“She’s incredible. Unbelievable,” he said at a Milwaukee rally earlier this month,

At a rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump made one of his last appearances before the election, he launched into a profane and conspiracy-filled speech. Wiles was seen standing offstage and appeared to be glaring at him.

Later, at a meeting in Pittsburgh, Trump appeared to acknowledge his adviser’s efforts to keep him on message.

After complaining that men aren’t allowed to call a woman “beautiful” anymore, he asked if he could remove that word from the post. “I’m allowed to, aren’t I, Susan Wiles?” he thought.