Trump names campaign manager Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Susie Wiles, the manager of his successful campaign, as his chief of staff for the White House. This makes her the first woman to occupy this significant position.

Wiles is recognized both inside and outside of Trump's close team for managing what many consider his most organized and effectively run campaign. She was viewed as the top candidate for the role. Remarkably, she stayed out of the limelight, even declining to give a speech while Trump celebrated his win early Wednesday morning.

Wiles's appointment marks Trump's initial significant choice as president-elect, potentially becoming a crucial challenge for his upcoming administration as he needs to swiftly assemble a team to manage the federal government. Although Wiles lacks experience in government, he shares a strong connection with the president-elect.

She managed to achieve something that very few others could: she guided Trump in managing his impulses, not through scolding or preaching, but by winning his respect and demonstrating that he benefited more when he listened to her suggestions rather than disregarding them.

"Susie is strong, intelligent, creative, and widely respected by everyone. She will keep putting in relentless effort to help Make America Great Again," Trump announced in a statement. "It’s a truly deserved recognition for Susie to be the first woman to serve as Chief of Staff in the history of the United States. I'm confident she will bring pride to our nation."

During his first term, Trump had four different chiefs of staff, one of whom held the position on an acting basis for a whole year. This was part of an unprecedented turnover of staff in his administration.

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Effective chiefs of staff act as trusted advisors to the president, assisting in the implementation of the president's goals while managing various political and policy challenges. They often take on the role of a gatekeeper, deciding who the president interacts with and who he communicates with. This was a role that Trump found restrictive during his time in the White House.

Chris Whipple, author of *The Gatekeepers*, emphasizes the crucial role of the chief of staff in the White House, stating that this position is vital for the administration to run smoothly. He notes that the key responsibility of the chief of staff is to convey difficult truths to the president, even when they might be unwelcome.

"On the positive side, she has demonstrated her ability to handle Trump, collaborate with him, and even deliver difficult messages when necessary, which is quite significant," Whipple stated. "On the downside, she lacks any experience in the White House and hasn’t been active in Washington for four decades. That is a considerable drawback."

Wiles is a seasoned Republican strategist from Florida who managed Trump’s campaigns in the state during the 2016 and 2020 elections. Prior to those roles, she led Rick Scott's campaign for governor of Florida in 2010 and had a short stint as the manager of Jon Huntsman’s presidential campaign in 2012.

Chris LaCivita, who co-managed the campaign with Wiles, took to Twitter/X to express his pride: "I'm incredibly happy and proud of one of the most dedicated and fearless individuals I’ve ever had the opportunity to work alongside!"

During his campaign, Trump frequently mentioned Wiles, openly commending her for leading what he claimed was his "most well-managed campaign."

"She's amazing. Truly amazing," he remarked during a rally in Milwaukee earlier this month.

During a rally in Pennsylvania, which was one of Trump's final events before the election, he delivered a speech filled with vulgar language and conspiracy theories. Wiles was seen offstage, seemingly watching him with a disapproving look.

Later, during a rally in Pittsburgh, Trump appeared to recognize his advisor's attempts to help him stay focused on his message.

After expressing frustration about the fact that men can’t just tell women they’re "beautiful" anymore, he wondered if he could erase that word from the conversation. "I'm allowed to do that, right, Susan Wiles?" he contemplated.