President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Susie Wiles will be his chief of staff in the White House, his first major appointment of his second administration.
The ‘Ice Baby’ – as she has been nicknamed – will be the first female chief of staff in U.S. history.
The 67-year-old ran the campaign that propelled him to an historic election win over Democrat Kamala Harris on Tuesday night.
Wiles ran his race from behind the scenes and is one of the most feared and effective political operatives in the nation.
The key aide appeared alongside him as he declared victory with his family and staff in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Donald Trump has announced that Susie Wiles will be his chief of staff in the White House
‘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 in a statement Thursday. ‘Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected.
Wiles and campaign co-chair Chris LaCivita are credited with keeping Trump’s third presidential campaign mostly drama-free.
‘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,’ he added.
The daughter of the late football player and broadcaster Pat Summerall, Wiles first worked in national politics in 1980, joining Republican Ronald Reagan’s successful campaign as a scheduler.
She then worked in Florida for Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney and later as an adviser for Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton.
Wiles then helped now Sen. Rick Scott win the Florida governor’s mansion in 2010.
She briefly worked for the 2012 presidential bid of former Utah Gov. John Huntsman.
Susie Wiles, the incoming White House chief of staff, was photographed at a rally for President-elect Donald Trump In Kinston, North Carolina on Sunday
ICE BABY: Susie Wiles lives up to her nickname in an ice blue blazer during a campaign trip to Nashville alongside President-elect Donald Trump in July
The incoming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (left) with her daughter Caroline Wiles (right) at Christmastime
Wiles was first inducted into the Trump orbit during his successful 2016, managing campaign operations in Florida.
That state was called in his favor early-on, as he would go on to claim victory against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In 2018, Wiles helped Trump’s then-ally, Ron DeSantis, win his Florida gubernatorial race.
But shortly after, she was exiled from DeSantisland, with The Atlantic reporting that she had no idea why. She told a reporter at the magazine that working for DeSantis was the ‘biggest mistake’ she ever made in her career and she wanted him to feel the pain for throwing her away.
He did – after being absolutely trounced by Trump in the 2024 Republican primary.
DeSantis was considered a rising star in the GOP after Trump left the White House politically damaged from January 6th and the Florida governor’s presidential bid was expected to give Trump’s third try a run for the billionaire’s money.
But with Wiles’ leadership of the Trump campaign, DeSantis bowed out even before the New Hampshire primary, only lasting through the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses.
President-elect Donald Trump (right) gives a thumbs up in an undated photo in Florida with Susie Wiles, who he’s selected to be his first White House chief of staff
Susie Wiles takes in a Trump campaign rally Sunday in Lititz, Pennsylvania, a state that the president-elect won over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris
Susie Wiles (left) sits alongside President-elect Donald Trump at a Pittsburgh Steelers game against the New York Jets at Pittsburgh’s former Heinz Field in late October
Susie Wiles (second from right) stands alongside members of President-elect Donald Trump’s family including son Eric (center left) and daughter-in-law Lara. Dana White (second from left), the CEO of UFC was also onstage
Wiles worked for Trump in less triumphant times too.
She led his Florida operations during the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden.
Afterward she took over the leadership of the Save America PAC – telling Trump she would only take the job if she reported to him and him only.
The ex-president agreed.
That move gave her the keys to run his successful 2024 bid as well.
The selection of Wiles as chief of staff was viewed positively by Republicans, as it could mean that the second Trump White House was less dramatic than the first.
‘Susie Wiles is a tried and true professional. There are few folks who have survived as long in Trump’s orbit or have the President’s trust as much as Susie,’ commented Republican strategist Erin Perrine.
Trump ally Charlie Kirk, of youth organizing group Turning Point USA, had endorsed the idea hours earlier in a post on X.
‘Susie Wiles ran Trump’s best campaign of the three. … She’s disciplined, she’s smart, and she doesn’t seek the limelight. She would make an incredible chief of staff,’ Kirk said.
Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna saw Kirk’s post and agreed.
‘Susie would make an incredible COS,’ the Florida Republican said.
Wiles even got a thumbs up from a Democratic congressman.
‘Congrats to [Susie!],’ Rep. Jared Moskowitz said on X. ‘I worked with Susie in the DeSantis Administration. She is brilliant, tough, strategic. She will serve the country well.’
During the Trump 1.0 administration, the Republican first chose Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus to be his chief of staff, which wasn’t a good fit.
Priebus was out of the job six months and one week later.
Trump then selected John Kelly to serve as chief of staff.
Kelly warned Americans not to reelect Trump ahead of the 2024 election.
After Kelly’s departure, Trump had his former OMB chief Mick Mulvaney serve in the role on a temporary basis.
His final chief of staff was former North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, who had been the head of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus.
