- D. Trump's decision: for the first time, a woman will lead the White House administration
- Trump thanks Wiles after winning the election
- Even Democrats praise the choice
D. Trump's decision: for the first time, a woman will lead the White House administration
Donald Trump has appointed his former campaign manager, Susan Wiles, as White House Chief of Staff. This is Trump's first decision since his victory in the presidential election to choose the people who will work in his administration.
D. Trump is often criticized for his controversial statements and attitudes towards women, so this move must have surprised many: Wiles will be the first woman to head the White House administration.
Wiles, who served as a senior adviser to President Trump's 2024 campaign, is a long-standing member of the Republican Party, having also previously served as a senior adviser to Florida Governor Ronny DeSantis[1].
She is also considered by many observers to be a key factor in Trump's important second victory in the US presidential election.
Trump thanks Wiles after winning the election
D. Trump, in a statement released on Thursday, acknowledged Wiles's important role in this election fight, saying that she "just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history and was an integral part of the successful campaigns of 2016 and 2020." He described Ms Wiles as "tough, smart, innovative" and said she is highly respected.
Indeed, Ms Wiles has a wealth of political experience. She has worked on Trump's political operation since 2016 and previously managed Republican political campaigns in Florida, helping then-gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis win office in 2018[2].
In 2021, she was appointed CEO of Trump's Save America PAC, and when Trump announced his bid for a second term in the White House, she became a senior member of the campaign's leadership.
Wiles, 67, from New Jersey, will wield considerable power in the White House. The post is designed to regulate access to the President, making it one of the most important positions in any administration.
The incumbent directs, manages, and supervises the President's activities. The office coordinates and liaises with all administration departments and agencies, and the office staff assists the Chief of Staff in fulfilling their responsibilities as advisors to the President.
Even Democrats praise the choice
Even Democratic-leaning CNN political commentator Scott Jennings, a former aide to President George W. Bush, said on Thursday on "The Lead with Jake Tapper" that Mr Trump had made an excellent choice in choosing Ms Wiles, adding that she is widely respected in the Republican Party.
"The organization of the campaign and the fact that Trump followed instructions all the way through, I think it's a testament to what a great job she did. To be the first woman chief of staff in the White House I think is a huge sign for both President Trump and the Republican Party, and I think if she can bring the kind of discipline and organization to the White House that she has just brought to the campaign, Donald Trump has a really good chance of getting off to a great start and getting on with the job right away," said Jennings.
Some Republicans have quipped that this choice must be another blow to the Democrats. Last week, a staunch supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, billionaire Mark Cuban, commented that Trump does not want to be surrounded by "strong, intelligent women." He later apologized for this statement, but Trump's recent choice is seen as a response to similar criticism by Democrats of the newly elected US President[3].
As a reminder, Trump won the US presidential election this week by defeating the Democratic candidate Harris. He will officially take over from Joe Biden in January next year.
