President-elect Donald Trump made a historic decision with his first major appointment following his recent election victory. He selected Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, marking her as the first woman to hold this prestigious role.
Wiles, who served as Trump’s campaign manager for the 2024 election, has received significant acclaim for her role in securing his victory. The New York Times referred to her as “perhaps the most significant voice inside Mr. Trump’s third presidential campaign.”
Democratic Florida Representative Jared Moskowitz praised Wiles’ strategic prowess, noting her effectiveness in Trump’s campaign and in prior Florida races. He remarked on social media, “If you don’t know her yet, you will soon. Susie is destined to be remembered as one of the greatest campaign strategists. To the Democrats’ detriment, she has been part of every successful campaign in Florida.”
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During his victory speech on Tuesday night, Trump also expressed his gratitude to Wiles. “I want to take a moment to thank Susie and Chris for the incredible job they did. Come here, Susie,” he said, gesturing for her to join him alongside co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita. “Susie prefers to stay out of the spotlight; we like to call her the ice maiden.”
Here’s what you should know about Wiles, who has established herself as one of Trump’s most trusted advisors and will have significant influence as he returns to the White House.
Wiles has an extensive background with Republican campaigns
At 67 years old, Wiles boasts a long history as a Republican strategist and campaign operative.
Her career began in the 1970s when she worked alongside the late former New York Representative Jack Kemp, eventually contributing to Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. She has also served as campaign staff for Jacksonville Mayors John Delaney and John Peyton.
Wiles gained recognition as a formidable strategist in Florida, notably managing Senator Rick Scott’s successful gubernatorial campaign in 2010.
Additionally, she briefly oversaw the 2012 presidential campaign of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who later became a vocal critic of Trump following the events of January 6, 2021.
Following Trump’s 2016 election win, Wiles opted to remain in Florida and managed Governor Ron DeSantis’ successful re-election campaign. However, she has also been credited with ensuring Trump emerged as the GOP’s frontrunner for the 2024 primaries, rather than DeSantis. The day DeSantis suspended his campaign, Wiles posted “Bye, bye” on X (formerly Twitter).
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Wiles played a crucial role in Trump’s Florida victory in 2016
Joining Trump’s campaign in Florida during the 2016 election, Wiles was instrumental in orchestrating operations that led to a vital win against Hillary Clinton in the state.
Although Wiles tends to keep a low profile—Trump noted in his victory speech that she prefers to remain in the background—she did share her motivations for working with Trump during the 2016 election cycle in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times. She expressed that he embodied the transformative changes in Washington that she felt were necessary, contrasting sharply with other candidates who represented a Republican status quo she wished to avoid.
“I said, ‘I don’t want this to continue.’ I think it seriously will damage our republic and who among that group can really have the fortitude to shift what I’ve seen happening over all these years?” Wiles recalled.
In 2019, reports surfaced that DeSantis had pressured Trump to sever ties with Wiles, which he successfully achieved.
Nonetheless, Wiles returned to Trump’s inner circle, overseeing many of his operations in Florida and rising to the role of senior campaign manager during the 2024 campaign. Her prominence has reportedly made her a target for foreign agents.
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Wiles’ life beyond the political arena
Originally from New Jersey, Wiles hails from a prominent family, well before her political endeavors began. Her father was the late legendary NFL player and broadcaster Pat Summerall.
Wiles was married to fellow Reagan staff member and Republican consultant Lanny Wiles, and the couple raised two daughters while living in Ponte Vedra Beach, a suburb of Jacksonville. They divorced in 2017, as reported by Politico.
