US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed his relentless ally and campaign manager, Susie Wiles as the White House chief of staff as he prepares to take office.
The 45th and 47th American president made this known in a statement on Thursday.
“Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns,” Trump said.
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”
CNN reports that Wiles brings a wealth of experience to the position. The daughter of the late NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall, she is a seasoned political operative with deep roots in Florida.
Wiles has been one of Trump’s most trusted and long-serving advisers. Following her role in securing Florida for Trump in the 2020 election, she acted as his de facto chief of staff during his post-presidency and led his 2024 campaign from start to finish—a notable achievement within Trump’s circle.
Her leadership was widely praised for delivering a highly sophisticated and disciplined campaign, which included effectively managing and minimizing the influence of fringe figures in Trump’s orbit.
election night, Trump publicly acknowledged Wiles’ contributions during his victory speech, although she opted not to address the audience at the Palm Beach Convention Center. Her preference for maintaining a low profile has strengthened her rapport with Trump and his key supporters.
Earlier today, CNN reported that Wiles had set specific conditions before agreeing to take on the chief of staff role, chief among them being greater control over who has access to the president in the Oval Office.