The world is being introduced to Donald Trump’s new Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. She ran his 2024 election campaign, which was remarkably disciplined in spite of her out-of-control candidate. Trump mentioned her five times in his victory speech. He’s typically loathe to lavish too much credit to anyone other than himself.
Wiles is the daughter of the late football player and broadcaster Pat Summerall. She is credited with helping him beat alcoholism. She grew up around cameras but has generally stayed out of the spotlight. She has two nicknames: Ice Maiden and Ice Baby. Trump allegedly gave her those names because of her disciplined and, at times, ruthless approach to campaign management.
Wiles has decades of political experience, beginning with working in New York Rep. Jack Kemp’s Washington office in the 1970s. She worked on the Ronald Reagan campaign and in his White House before moving to Florida, where she advised two Jacksonville mayors and later worked with Rep. Tillie Fowler.
Wiles has experience working with ethically challenged candidates. In 2010, she helped outsider Rick Scott win his campaign to become Florida’s governor. Scott had few ties to the Florida Republican PArth and was best known for his role in defrauding Medicare in the largest case ($1.7 Billion) in U.S. history. Scott was forced to resign from Columbia/HCA, taking a $300 million severance package with him. Despite all that baggage, Wiles got him elected in a ten-month campaign, ignoring warnings from Republican operatives saying she’d regret working with Scott and “never work in Republican politics again.”
Something to like about Wiles is that she can’t stand current Florida governor, Ron DeSantis. She worked on the first DeSantis campaign and helped get him elected, but the two had a falling out. DeSantis urged Trump to fire her from his 2020 campaign. In return, Wiles led Trump’s campaign and crushed DeSantis in the Florida primary. Trump campaign aides mocked DeSantis throughout the race, mocking his laugh, the way he ate and accusing him of wearing lifts in his boots — as well as using insider knowledge that many suspected had come from Wiles. Susie rarely posts on social media, but when DeSantis cleared his calendar of scheduled events shortly before dropping out of the race. Wiles posted a short message on X, “Bye-bye!”
It’s been suggested that Wiles can control some of Trump’s worst impulses, but we’ve heard that about many others. It’s hoped she can curtail the stream of outsiders whispering in Trump’s ear, but that may also be wishful thinking.
In four years, Trump went through four chiefs of staff. Trump praised them all until he didn’t. Wiles will become the first woman to hold the position. She’s been called “the most feared and least known political operative’ in the US.” America is about to find out.
This post originally appeared on Substack and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Substack. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.