1 week Ago By Brianna Boecker
Ahead of his next four years in office, Donald Trump has appointed his campaign lead Susie Wiles as his incoming chief of staff, making her the first woman to ever step into the role. If you’ve never heard of Wiles before, that’s not surprising. She’s been working behind the scenes on Trump’s campaign in an almost invisible capacity.
She’s been credited with running a largely disciplined and steadfast campaign, which ultimately led to his presidential win. Earlier this week, during Trump’s election victory speech, he brought Wiles on-stage to speak to the packed crowd. It was an offer she rejected, to which Trump said “Suzie likes to stay in the background.
.. we call her the ice maiden.
” An American political magazine, has also described Wiles as “the most feared and least known political operative in America.” Who exactly is the Susie Wiles and what will she do as chief of staff? The role of a chief of staff in the US is to serve as the president’s confidant. They help execute a political agenda and policy priorities, as well as directing the president’s schedule and engagements.
During Trump’s 2017 to 2021 term, he ran through four chiefs of staff, a number that is quite high a US president. Wiles, 67, is a mother, a grandmother and has worked in politics for more than 40 years as a self-described moderate. She began her political career in 1979 as an assistant for Jack Kemp, a member of the Republican Party.
A year later, she joined Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. After this she advised two Jacksonville mayors in Florida and worked for Republican Tillie Fowler, before joining in statewide political campaigns. Wiles’ journey with Trump began as a senior advisor on his 2016 presidential bid in Florida, where he won the state by 1.
6 per cent over Hillary Clinton. In 2018, Wiles was appointed to lead Ron DeSantis’ campaign for governor elections in Florida, however, the pair’s ties broke down. She was dismissed in 2019 from working with DeSantis, who later urged Trump’s 2020 campaign to cut links with her.
In the end, Wiles continued to run Trump’s primary campaign against DeSantis and defeated the Florida governor. She has been described as level-headed, with many questioning why she’s supporting an authoritarian political figure like Trump. When senior staff writer Michael Kruseasked Wiles why she works with Trump amid the criticism, she replied: “Otherworldly political instincts”.
Wiles’ role as chief of staff begins on 20 January, 2025 when Trump takes office. In the meantime, Trump will be appointing more key figures to his administration. His , aides and allies who are likely to stick around include Lara Trump, who has been his handpicked choice to serve as co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
Lara is married to Trump’s middle son, Eric, and she has been a prominent campaigner for her father-in-law. A longtime friend of Trump and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Dana White is looking to be a supporter that could have a shot at an appointment. Co-chair of the president-elect’s transition team, as well as longtime friend of Trump, Linda McMahon has proven influential.
McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term in office and has worked on his reelection campaign. There’s also Elon Musk, who looks to be one of the most powerful figures in Trump’s orbit. The billionaire head of Tesla, SpaceX and platform X, has moved from once supporting President Barack Obama to becoming a leading voice among American conservatives.
He’s poured millions of dollars into Trump’s campaign, and Trump has said he’ll give Musk a major role in his administration..
