Who is Susie Wiles? Donald Trump's new chief of staff

After a very short period of uncertainty,the results of the 2024 US presidential elections came in pretty quickly. Unlike the counting for the last election back in 2020, which lasted a few days, the winner was announced in less than a day after everyone had had a chance to make their voices heard.

Donald Trump was elected as the 47th President of the United States, signalling his return to the White House, four years after he moved out. He has now announced the name of the new chief of staff, so let's dig into what we know about Susie Wiles.

Donald Trump appoints his chief of staff: Who is Susie Wiles?

After celebrating his victory with his followers and his family, the new president-elect Donald Trump gave a speech on Thursday, 7 November 2024, during which he chose to introduce his new chief of staff. A woman who has now been dubbed as his 'work wife' by Daily Mail.

He called out Susan Wiles, known as Susie, from the stage, and asked her to come up to the microphone to say a few words. While the 67-year-old woman did walk up to the stage, she refused to speak. The president-elect went on to explain his choice, saying:

Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. 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.

Unlike many Trump supporters who tend to find a place in the spotlight, Wiles is someone who has always stayed in the shadows. That will certainly change as Trump looks forward to his second term as president with Wiles by his side.

Who is Susie Wiles?

Susie Wiles is mostly known for being Donald Trump's campaign manager in this year's election, which was evidently a success for his team. This wasn't her first achievement. Indeed, as reported by Reuters, she started her political career working for Republican President Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign which also resulted in victory.

Since then, she has worked for a variety of Republican politicians, including a few that has opposed Trump in the past—like Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. and Ron DeSantis.

According to sources close to the former and newly elected president Donald Trump, Susie Wiles had been eyeing the position of chief of staff for years. A dream that is now coming true—from the moment she steps into the White House, she will run everything and everyone from day to day.

It seems her close friends all claim she is perfect for the job, as discipline appears to be her motto in life. In fact, because of that very quality, she is famously known as the 'ice maiden'.

The 'ice maiden'

Carlos Trujillo, a close friend of Susie Wiles and a former US ambassador explained why the 67-year-old woman's method works in politics:

Her professional staff is some of the best…and are dead loyal to her and to her vision. But her specialty is managing personalities and managing information.

In a portrait by Politico, Americans were able to learn that Susie Wiles' upbringing might have played a role in her sense of discipline today. Indeed, she is the daughter of Pat Summerall, an NFL player who went on to become a star sportscaster. Despite his successful career, he was also an alcoholic who cheated on Susie's mother, which led to their divorce when she was still young. In his memoir, the former NFL player wrote:

My children grew up without me. I failed them as a father.

John Delaney, a former Jacksonville mayor, for whom Susie Wiles worked when she started her career, gave his view of the political expert, saying:

I've described her as a political savant — just otherworldly sort of political instincts. Susie is a brilliant tactician, an enabler.

Read more:

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Fred Trump Jr.: The tragic story of Donald Trump's brother who died at the age of 42

Sources used:

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

Daily Mail: Who is Susie Wiles? Trump's new chief of staff and 'work wife' is grandma who has grown men quaking

Reuters: Who is Susie Wiles, the "ice maiden" who will be Trump's chief of staff?

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