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President Donald Trump named Susie Wiles as his new White House chief of staff on Thursday, making it his first major staffing decision for his second administration.
Wiles served as Trump’s campaign manager and becomes the first female White House chief of staff for a president.
“Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns,” Trump said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
Trump previously praised Wiles during his celebration speech early Wednesday morning after he was projected to win the election.
“Let me also express my tremendous appreciation for Susie [Wiles] and Chris [LaCivita], on the job you did. Susie, come, Susie,” he said. “Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you. The ice baby. We call her the ice baby. Susie likes to stay in the background. She’s not in the background.”
Vice President-elect JD Vance also applauded the announcement in a post on X.
“This is great news. Susie was a huge asset to President Trump on the campaign and will be a huge asset in the White House. She’s also just a really good person. Onward!” Vance wrote.
Wiles’ expertise reaches back decades, starting with work on President Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign. She also worked for Republican Reps. Jack Kemp and Tillie Fowler, according to Reuters.
Wiles previously served in Florida Sen. Rick Scott’s campaign, who praised her in a statement published by USA Today.
“Most Republicans were told if they worked on my campaign in the primary they would never work in Republican politics, so I’ll forever be grateful somebody with Susie’s reputation came to work for me,” said Scott, adding Wiles is “really smart, she’s a hard worker, she’s a team player, I think she gives really good advice.”
The new chief of staff is also the daughter of former NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall, who passed away in 2013.