Trump announces he will make Susie Wiles his chief of staff

Photo: Alex Brandon Associated Press Donald Trump and Susie Wiles in West Palm Beach, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024

Zeke Miller – Associated Press, Michelle L. Price – Associated Press, Jill Colvin – Associated Press in Washington

Published yesterday at 6:16 p.m. Updated yesterday at 11:51 p.m.

• United States

President-elect Donald Trump has named Susie Wiles, the manager of his successful campaign, as White House chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold the influential position.

Ms. Wiles is widely credited within and outside Mr. Trump’s inner circle with running what has been by far his most disciplined and well-executed campaign, and was considered the leading contender for the job. She has often avoided the spotlight, even refusing to take the microphone to speak as Mr. Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning. She has resisted the official title of campaign manager, avoiding becoming a target, given Mr. Trump’s habit of giving people in that role a run for their money.

The hiring of Ms. Wiles is Trump’s first major decision as president-elect, and one that could be a critical test for his new administration as he quickly assembles the team that will help him run the massive federal government. Ms. Wiles does not bring much federal government experience to the job, but she has a close relationship with the president-elect.

During her campaign, she managed to do what few others have: help control Mr. Trump’s impulses, not by berating him or lecturing him, but by earning his respect and showing him that it was better to follow his advice than to flout it.

President Trump had four chiefs of staff, including one who served in an acting capacity for a year, during his first administration, in a record turnover. Many top aides were pushed aside by Mr. Trump during his first term, who resented feeling bossed around or patronized, while others found themselves caught up in ideological struggles within the factional West Wing.

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“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “It is a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first female chief of staff in American history. I am confident she will make our country proud.” »

Successful chiefs of staff serve as confidants to the president, helping to execute the president’s agenda and balance competing policy and strategic priorities. They also tend to serve as gatekeepers, helping to determine who the president spends his time with and who he talks to — an effort that irritates Mr. Trump inside the White House.

The chief of staff is absolutely essential to an effective White House,” said Chris Whipple, whose book The Gatekeepers details how the role of the White House chief of staff shapes and defines a presidency. “Ultimately, 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 handle Trump, that she can work with him and can sometimes tell him hard truths, and that’s really important, Mr. Whipple said. On the negative side, she really has no experience in the White House and hasn’t really worked in Washington in 40 years. And that’s a real disadvantage. »

Ms. Wiles is a longtime Republican strategist based in Florida who ran Mr. Trump’s campaign in the state in 2016 and 2020. Before that, she ran Rick Scott’s campaign for Florida governor in 2010 and briefly served as the presidential campaign manager for former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman in 2012.

Chris LaCivita, who served as co-manager of the campaign with Ms. Wiles, posted on X: “So happy and proud of one of the fiercest and most loyal warriors I have ever had the pleasure of working with!!!”

Ms. Wiles was seen by Mr. Trump’s aides as someone who could guide his moods and impulses without necessarily holding him back. President Trump referred to Ms. Wiles frequently during the campaign, publicly praising her leadership in what he said was often described as his “best-run campaign.”

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

At a rally in Pennsylvania where Mr. Trump made one of his last appearances before the election, he launched into a profane and conspiracy-laden speech. Ms. Wiles was seen standing offstage and appearing to glare at him.

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

After complaining that men are no longer allowed to call a woman “beautiful,” he asked if he could strike the word from the record. “I have a right to do that, don’t I, Susan Wiles ?,” he mused.

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