Donald Trump names campaign architect Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff

US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Susie Wiles, one of the top architects of his 2024 presidential campaign, as his White House chief of staff. She will be the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff.

Wiles’ appointment, Trump’s first major decision, marks the beginning of the Republican transition process ahead of the January inauguration.

The President-elect said, “Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history. Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again”.

Wiles is highly regarded both within and beyond Trump’s inner circle for orchestrating his most disciplined and well-executed campaign to date, making her the top contender for the chief of staff role. Preferring to stay behind the scenes, she declined to speak even as Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning.

“It is a well deserved honour 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,” Trump said in his statement.

Wiles is a veteran Republican strategist from Florida who led Trump’s campaigns in the state in both 2016 and 2020. Prior to that, she managed Rick Scott’s successful 2010 campaign for Florida governor and briefly served as campaign manager for former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential bid.

Effective chiefs of staff act as the president’s confidant, execute the president’s agenda, and balance competing political and policy priorities. They also serve as gatekeepers, managing who has access to the president and determining how the president’s time is allocated–an approach that often clashed with Trump’s preferences during his time in the White House.

Trump is expected to begin the process of choosing his cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration officials in the coming weeks.

Richard Grenell, Trump’s former acting Director of National Intelligence, Robert O’Brien, a former national security adviser known for his hawkish views, and Bill Hagerty, a senator and former ambassador with strong Republican ties are the top contenders for the post of Secretary of State.

For the Defence Secretary, the frontrunners include Congressman Mike Waltz, an outspoken critic of China’s influence, and Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State.