Who is Susie Wiles? Choosing Susan Wiles as his Chief of Staff was a bit surprising to those who’d long accused President Donald Trump of being a misogynist. It has been a few months since the news hit the media. Maybe it is time to take a look at who Susie Wiles is and what her appointment could signify for the Trump administration.
Who is Susie Wiles?
Back in November, Politico stated that Susie Wiles was about to become the most powerful woman in Washington. Many were surprised that Donald Trump would place that kind of power in the hands of a woman. However, most of the world was busy digging to find out exactly who this woman is.
Early Life and Career
Wiles definitely isn’t new to politics. In fact, after beginning her political career working on various campaigns in Florida, she moved on to become the campaign director for Trump’s 2016 run. By 2024, she’d become his senior advisor for his run in 2024. The firm hand that she kept on the reigns of that campaign is credited to his huge victories in both the electoral college and the popular vote.
National Recognition
Despite being an outsider in DC, her work during the 2016 presidential campaign played a pivotal role in securing Florida for Donald Trump. It wasn’t long before she’d earned the respect of the president, and the attention of the nation.
But 67-year-old Wiles does not seem to be attention-seeking. In fact, CBS reported in November that she is “known as a formidable political operative who prefers to work behind the scenes, rather than on any stage – or on front of cameras.”
Rapport With Staff
Susie Wiles is also reported to get along well with Trump’s campaign staff. They call her a mentor, and “great boss to those who work for her.” Carlos Trujillo, campaign advisor and U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States takes it a step further and insists that the people who have worked under Wiles would, “take a bullet for her.” Trump’s Senior Advisor, Danielle Alvarez shares that Wiles, “knows how to bring people together.”
Trump’s Alleged Misogyny
Donald Trump’s presidency has been overshadowed by accusations of misogyny. On an episode of “The View,” Mark Cuban accused Trump of having a lack of respect for women and stated that Trump had problems associating with “strong intelligent women.”
Despite being known for staying in the background, Wiles responded on Twitter with, “I’m told @mcuban needs help identifying the strong and intelligent women surrounding Pres. Trump. Well, here we are! I’ve been proud to lead this campaign. Complimented by @Linda_McMahon,Chair for Transition Policy and @LaraLeaTrump,RNC Co-Chair.”
Accusations and Controversies
Of course, there are those who aren’t as fond of Wiles. Despite bringing her in to his ranks in 2018, and naming her as “really the best in the business” during his victory speech, Ron DeSantis has since made some startling accusations against her.
After an attack piece in the Tampa Bay Times named Wiles, DeSantis accused her of leaking documents to the press. DeSantis stands accused by Politico of convincing Trump’s campaign team to fire Wiles ahead of 2020’s election. It certainly seems as though Trump and Wiles have settled their issues.
Wiles denies the Florida governor’s accusations, and shared that DeSantis refused to meet with her to clear the air. According to Tim Alberta from The Atlantic, DeSantis completely shunned Wiles after she’d helped push him to victory, causing Wiles to admit that working for the Florida governor was the “biggest mistakes of her life.”
Implications for the Administration
Wiles’ presence in the administration could have significant implications for the dynamics within the White House. As Chief of Staff, she will be in a position to influence key decisions and policies, potentially shaping the direction of the administration in ways that could address some of the criticisms leveled against it.
For staunch Republicans, this could be a bit concerning, since many see her as more of a moderate than a right-leaning conservative. In 1995, John Delaney became the first Republican mayor of Jacksonville in decades – thanks to Wiles.
In a recent interview, Delaney stated to USA Today, “She’s a Republican, but she’s not uber, uber conservative at all. Really, you’d be struck more by moderate than anything else… She’d be left on the environment, left on gay rights…”
Conclusion
The appointment of Susan Wiles as Trump’s Chief of Staff certainly challenges the narrative of his alleged misogyny. Of course, the press will never completely dispel their accusations, but it is obvious that Trump has a lot of respect for Wiles, and trusts her judgment, despite the fact that she is female, and leans a little more left than he does.
While much of the press is determined to show Trump as a strict conservative with sexist leanings and almost dictator-type ideas, his appointment of Wiles seems to directly contradict this theory. Are you surprised that he gave this much power to a woman?
