Trump Appoints Campaign Manager Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff

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Facts

  • US Pres.-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said Susan Summerall Wiles will be his chief of staff. The 67-year-old will become the first woman in the role when she takes charge on Jan. 20, 2025, managing his staff, schedule, and contacts with various departments and lawmakers.[1][2]
  • Announcing his first major appointment since winning the 2024 US election, Trump said Wiles helped him achieve "one of the greatest political victories in American history." He said in a statement that she had been an integral part of his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.[3][4]
  • He described Wiles — one of his two senior campaign advisors — as “tough, smart, [and] innovative." Trump said her appointment as his new chief of staff was a “well deserved honor.” In his election night speech in Palm Beach, Florida, he stated: "We call her the Ice Maiden.”[5][6]
  • A top Florida politics operative, Wiles helped Ron DeSantis win the state governorship in 2018, but later fell out with him. He then got her fired from Team Trump, but she was brought back in 2020. She's also a veteran of Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaigns and White House.[7][8]
  • Wiles is said to prefer operating behind the scenes — so much so that, even during the election night speech on Wednesday, when Trump invited her to address supporters, she reportedly declined. This trait is believed to have endeared her to Trump and to his allies.[3][9]
  • For Trump, who had a record four chiefs of staff during his first administration and is known to break into profanities — including in one of his most recent speeches — Wiles has reportedly been widely viewed as a tempering influence.^
    [5][10]

Sources: [1]BBC News, [2]Reuters, [3]CNN, [4]Al Jazeera, [5]POLITICO, [6]NPR Online News, [7]Washington Post, [8]The New York Times, [9]CBS and [10]The Guardian.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by FOX News and FOX News. Susie Wiles is a seasoned strategist and a compelling choice for Donald Trump’s chief of staff. Her extensive experience spans several successful campaigns, and she is well-known for her unflinching honesty and ability to stay effective behind the scenes. Beyond politics, Wiles has also shown profound strength and compassion — a testament to her resilience and character.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by POLITICO. Susie Wiles' appointment as the new White House chief of staff is a bad idea due to her controversial tactics and the ethical concerns surrounding her methods. While effective in securing Trump's political success, her approach has raised moral questions, and her appointment could further polarize opinions and exacerbate the divisive nature of Trump's political agenda.