Inside the war between DeSantis and Trump’s formidable new chief of staff
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Ron DeSantis previously praised Susie Wiles as "the top in her field."
Donald Trump's new Chief of Staff is recognized for rescuing Ron DeSantis's struggling campaign for governor in Florida back in 2018.
According to a source who was present during the conversation, Trump commented to DeSantis in 2019, as reported by Politico, that hiring Wiles was "the smartest decision you've ever made."
However, the bond between the governor of Florida and Wiles began to fall apart after he achieved significant success following the election, while she was removed from his administration and, for some time, from Trump’s 2020 campaign.
According to a source familiar with the discussion, Trump privately told Wiles, "This guy truly has a strong dislike for you!" as reported by the New York Times.
“The only individual who truly had an issue with her was Ron DeSantis,” the newspaper cited another source as saying.
Let's take a trip back to 2015, when Trump first crossed paths with Wiles during the Republican presidential primary. Following a suggestion from then-Governor Rick Scott, she was appointed as co-chair for Trump's Florida campaign in 2016.
At 66 years old, Wiles has a history of choosing successful candidates, so Scott brought him on to manage his 2010 campaign for governor. Many believed Scott would lose the election, but he ended up winning.
In 2016, Trump was not expected to win Florida, which was considered a key state, but he succeeded after enlisting Wiles' help. She also played a significant role in DeSantis's victory in 2018.
After winning, DeSantis—who had exited the 2024 presidential contest and backed Trump in January—requested Wiles to assist with his transition in Tallahassee, naming her chair of his political committee.
However, the relationship between Wiles and DeSantis started to deteriorate and ultimately fell apart. There are various theories about the cause, including claims that Wiles was taking "too much credit" for DeSantis's success, was too candid with the press, and that there were worries regarding her being “too friendly” with her previous client, Scott, as reported by the Times.
Reports suggest there were also tensions between Wiles and certain key members of DeSantis's close team, such as his wife, Casey DeSantis, and his chief of staff, Shane Strum. A Republican lobbyist informed Politico that the connection between Strum and Wiles had become "toxic." However, both individuals refuted this claim when speaking to the publication.
As Trump prepared for the 2020 election, he brought Wiles back on board to manage his campaign in Florida, despite reported concerns from DeSantis.
In September 2019, tensions escalated after a memo that Wiles had written back in January was leaked and appeared in the Tampa Bay Times. Wiles faced accusations of being the one who leaked the document, which she has denied.
According to the memo, the governor aims to consistently raise funds and keep a prominent political presence both within Florida and beyond. Additionally, the leaked information revealed that energy lobbyists spent large sums of money to play golf with the governor.
According to reports from Politico, DeSantis was extremely angry and pushed the Trump campaign to get rid of her. The Trump campaign responded by cutting ties with Wiles, which left them without a key advisor in a crucial state right before the 2020 election.
Supporters rushed to support her, insisting that she was not "disloyal" and that she wouldn’t share any confidential information. “Anyone who believes it was Susie Wiles who leaked this is being foolish,” Curt Anderson, an advisor to Scott, told Politico.
Wiles faced pressure to depart from the lobbying firm in Jacksonville, where she had been employed for many years—Ballard Partners, managed by Brian Ballard, who is a fundraiser for both DeSantis and Trump.
She announced her departure due to health issues, but a friend of Wiles shared with The Independent that she was feeling quite low during that time, describing it as a challenging period for her. Leaving, in fact, led her to face a major identity crisis.
Her exit caused significant trouble for Trump's team. "The loss of Susie Wiles is not just regrettable but also risky. She acts like a seasoned leader on the battlefield," Michael Caputo, who advised the Trump campaign in 2016, explained to Politico back then.
"Not many folks grasp Florida's statewide politics the way Susie Wiles does as an outsider candidate," Caputo remarked. "I’m aware that the president holds her unique ability to connect with the state in high regard."
That special influence is what inspired Trump to invite Wiles back the next summer. The Trump campaign made the announcement on Twitter, promising that Trump would “secure Florida once more.”
Trump secured a victory in Florida during the 2020 election, but ultimately, he lost the overall election to Joe Biden.
Wiles played a crucial role in securing Trump’s second victory in this year’s presidential election against Kamala Harris. As a result of her efforts, she has been appointed as his Chief of Staff.
In a recent statement, Trump expressed, "Susie Wiles played a crucial role in helping me secure one of the most significant political wins in American history. She was a key contributor to both my successful campaigns in 2016 and 2020."
"It’s a truly deserved recognition to have Susie as the very first woman to hold the position of Chief of Staff in the history of the United States," he stated. "I am confident that she will bring great pride to our nation."
Although the campaign will be celebrating this weekend, Wiles probably realizes that the president-elect had four chiefs of staff during his first term in office.
