President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday he is selecting Susie Wiles, his presidential campaign’s co-chair, as White House chief of staff, marking the first major administrative pick made by Trump before he takes office in January.
Who Is Susan Wiles?
Wiles grew up in New Jersey and is the daughter of late football player and sportscaster Pat Summerall. Wiles, now 67, worked for former Rep. Jack Kemp, R-N.Y., and former President Ronald Reagan during her early days in politics before later establishing her own political consulting firm in Florida, where she guided the state’s former Republican governor, now-Sen. Rick Scott, to victory in 2010, according to The Economist. Wiles has also worked for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and aided Trump’s presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020, withFlorida considered a swing state during the first campaign. Trump has won Florida in the last three elections. Wiles is close to Trump’s family, according to The New York Times, which noted she has helped deal with lawyers in the president-elect’s criminal and civil cases. Wiles has been called the “ice maiden” by Trump, who said at an election night watch party she “likes to stay in the background.” Trump suggested she speak during his victory celebration early Wednesday morning, but she declined, instead letting fellow campaign co-chair Chris LaCivita take the microphone.
Key Background
Trump has floated several names for roles in his administration, including former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tesla chief Elon Musk, though he has yet to officially name anyone to his administration besides Wiles. Trump said in November RFK Jr. will have a “big role in health care” after the activist reportedly met with Trump transition officials in October. Musk has proposed leading a “government efficiency commission” that would conduct financial and performance audits of the federal government, according to Trump. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have been floated for the role of defense secretary, while names likely to be considered for Trump’s secretary of state include Waltz, former national security adviser Robert O’Brien, former U.S. ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell and Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Bill Haggerty R-Tenn., Politico reported.
