President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Susie Wiles, the de facto campaign manager, as his White House chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold such a powerful position.
Wiles is largely regarded as the top candidate for the role, both inside and outside of Trump’s inner circle, for running what was by far his most disciplined and well-executed campaign. She generally avoided the spotlight, declining to speak as Trump celebrated his triumph early Wednesday morning. She declined the formal title of campaign manager in order to avoid becoming a target, given Trump’s track record of cycling through people in that position.
Wiles’ hiring is Trump’s first significant choice as president-elect, and it might be a litmus test for his new administration, as he must rapidly assemble the staff that will help operate the huge federal agency. Wiles brings little federal government experience to the post, but he is close to the president-elect.
During the campaign, Wiles was able to accomplish what few others have been able to do: assist regulate Trump’s impulses — not by chastising or scolding him, but by earning his respect and demonstrating that he was better off following her counsel than disregarding it.
Eight years ago, Trump abandoned the careful planning of his transition team in favor of hiring a motley crew of campaign aides, family members, and Republican insiders, who spent the majority of his first year in office engaged in infighting that dominated news coverage of the new administration. Many observers consider it a fundamental error that hampered a president who was unfamiliar with Washington and the government at the time of his inauguration.
During his first administration, Trump replaced four chiefs of staff, including one who served in an acting role for a year, as part of a record-breaking personnel turnover. Many top advisers were fired by Trump during his first term because they resented feeling manipulated or condescended to, while others became embroiled in ideological battles within the factionalized West Wing.
Trump advisers believe Wiles’ appointment indicates that the president-elect is attempting to form a more unified team, but one that will almost likely be less conventional than his Democratic or Republican predecessors.
Trump, who vowed in 2016 to hire “only the best people,” has now stated that hiring the wrong people was his biggest mistake during his first term. He claims he was fresh to Washington at the time and had no idea what to expect. But now, Trump claims, he knows the “best people” and who to avoid for positions in his cabinet.
“Susie is tough, smart, and innovative, and she is widely admired and respected.” “Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,” Trump stated in his statement. “It is a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first female Chief of Staff in US history. “I am confident that she will make our country proud.”
Successful chiefs of staff function as the president’s confidant, assisting in the execution of the president’s agenda, and balancing opposing political and policy agendas. They also often act as a gatekeeper, deciding who the president spends his time with and who he communicates with – an endeavor Trump despised inside the White House.
The chief of staff is “absolutely critical to an effective White House,” according to Chris Whipple, whose book “The Gatekeepers” examines how the White House chief of staff role forms and defines a presidency. “At the end of the day the most important thing is telling the president what he doesn’t want to hear.”
“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,” Whipple told reporters. “On the negative side, she has no White House experience and hasn’t worked in Washington in 40 years.” And that is a significant disadvantage.
Wiles is a longstanding Republican strategist headquartered in Florida, having run Trump’s campaigns in the state in 2016 and 2020, as well as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ successful 2018 election bid. Prior to that, she ran Rick Scott’s 2010 Florida gubernatorial campaign and temporarily managed former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential campaign.
Wiles has also worked in the offices of past Jacksonville Mayors John Delaney and John Peyton.
Chris LaCivita, Wiles’ de facto campaign manager, described him as someone who is inclusive in conversations, wants opinion from others, and is fiercely loyal.
“Susie is just functionally built differently because she has that rare commodity to be able to work on so many different important issues simultaneously,” LaCivita explained to The Associated Press.
Wiles was tasked with having the most difficult debates with Trump, as well as every key conversation. She worked effectively with his family and formed contacts with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Elon Musk, positioning her as a major conduit for Trump’s emerging alliances with both individuals.
“She can manage really any ego that comes her way,” LaCivita added. “And she doesn’t do it by any other way other than just being very straightforward and on top of the details.”
He went further: “The most important commodity in politics is honesty and loyalty and Susie has both in copious amounts.”
Wiles was viewed by Trump advisers as someone who could steer his moods and impulses without necessarily constraining him. Trump frequently mentioned Wiles on the campaign trail, publicly praising her leadership of what he described as his “best-run campaign.”
“She is great. “Incredible,” he exclaimed during a rally in Milwaukee earlier this month.
Trump delivered a vulgar and conspiracy-laden address at a rally in Pennsylvania, one of his final public appearances before the election. Wiles was seen standing offstage, appearing to scowl at him.
Later, during a rally in Pittsburgh, Trump appeared to recognize his advisers’ efforts to keep him on script.
He asked whether he could remove the word “beautiful” from the record after arguing that men are no longer permitted to do so. “I’m allowed to do that, aren’t I, Susan Wiles?” he grumbled.