Donald Trump just dropped a bombshell on Thursday, announcing that his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, will step up as his White House chief of staff. Trump hailed Wiles as a key player in his historic political victories in 2016 and 2020, calling her tough, smart, and universally respected. He emphasized that Wiles will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again, marking her as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in U.S. history.
Some sources reported that Wiles was the front-runner but had some conditions before accepting the role. Top of her list? More control over who gets face time with the president in the Oval Office. A source quipped, “The clown car can’t come into the White House at will,” and Trump agreed.
During Trump’s first term, his chiefs of staff struggled to keep a revolving door of informal advisers, family members, and friends from influencing him. Wiles, credited with running Trump’s most disciplined campaign, kept many fringe voices at bay. She even managed the flight manifest for Trump’s private plane, a thankless job that required her to shut down access when Trump couldn’t say “no” himself.
Brooke Rollins, another contender for the chief of staff role, stepped down after realizing it would lead to a power struggle with Wiles. Rollins, who served in Trump’s first term and now runs the America First Policy Institute, is still expected to play a role in the second Trump administration.
The chief of staff post, the second-most-important office in the West Wing, has never been held by a woman. Kamala Harris broke barriers as the first female vice president, and many senior government positions have been held by women, but the top Pentagon position, joint chiefs of staff, and chief justice of the Supreme Court remain male-dominated.
Wiles, the daughter of late NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall and a seasoned political operative from Florida, is one of Trump’s longest-serving advisers. After helping him win Florida in 2020, she served as his de facto chief of staff during his post-presidency and led his campaign throughout the race. On election night, Trump credited Wiles during his victory speech, though she handed the microphone to co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita.
Her behind-the-scenes approach has endeared her to Trump and his allies, with several publicly endorsing her for the job. Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk praised her on X, saying, “Susie Wiles ran Trump’s best campaign of the three, and it wasn’t particularly close. She’s disciplined, smart, and doesn’t seek the limelight. She would make an incredible Chief of Staff. The president, and America, would be well served with Susie in that key role.
