After Donald Trump won the election, he announced that Susie Wiles, his longtime Florida campaign strategist, would be his White House chief of staff. This was Trump’s first major appointment post-election and one his team had been eager to make public. Wiles has been a trusted and familiar advisor, working closely with Trump and his family, and is the first woman to hold this role.
Wiles has a unique ability to adapt to Trump’s often unpredictable management style, which led him to go through four chiefs of staff in his first term. Although she worked on Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns in less prominent roles, she took charge of his political strategy in early 2021. Wiles is one of the few people to lead a campaign for him from start to finish, helping manage his legal challenges and advising on campaign strategies.
Trump expressed confidence in her leadership, describing her as “tough, smart, innovative,” and he believes she’ll make the country proud. Wiles’s appointment marks a shift from his 2016 pick, Reince Priebus, who didn’t have the same close ties to Trump.
Wiles’s strong connections within Trump’s circle, including with key figures like Vice President-elect JD Vance and Trump’s sons, make her a popular choice. Her background in expanding Trump’s support among Black and Latino voters highlights her influence. Known for balancing relationships with both Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base and some of the Republican establishment, she has garnered praise from across the party.
The role of chief of staff is critical for any administration, acting as a gatekeeper and setting the president’s agenda. But Trump has always resisted traditional hierarchy, which has made this job especially challenging in his administration. Wiles, however, has proven her ability to manage Trump’s unconventional style.
Trump briefly considered Brooke Rollins for this position, though Rollins’s focus on criminal justice reform made her less popular with Trump’s current advisers. Unlike many of Trump’s earlier hires, who had backgrounds in Washington or Congress, Wiles is expected to assemble a staff with closer ties to Trump himself.
Wiles generally keeps a low profile, preferring not to speak publicly, which Trump respects. In fact, when Trump invited her to speak at an event, she politely declined. Her history includes working on Ronald Reagan’s campaign in the 1970s, assisting Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis in Florida, and even working briefly for Jon Huntsman’s 2012 campaign.