Susie Wiles named White House chief of staff by President-elect Trump
Susie Summerall Wiles has been named to serve as his chief of staff, a move that will make her the first woman to hold the critical role. She is Mr. Trump’s first Cabinet-level pick.
His transition team is at work helping the incoming president fill other top positions and thousands of lower roles in his new administration, which begins in just 74 days.
The selection of Ms. Wiles, 67, was largely expected. She is credited with helping Mr. Trump succeed in his third presidential race.
The former president won a second term this week, sweeping the battleground states and picking up support from a broad swath of the electorate, including an increased number of Hispanic and Black voters, female voters and young voters.
“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,” Mr. Trump said. “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.”
Mr. Trump called Ms. Wiles “the ice baby,” after praising her on stage in West Palm Beach, Florida, ahead of his victory speech this week. She ran Mr. Trump’s campaign alongside Chris LaCivita.
Mr. Trump’s selection of Ms. Wiles comes after criticism from Democrats that his election would hurt women.
Mark Cuban, a surrogate for the campaign of Mr. Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, said “you never see strong, intelligent women,” around Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump countered with a social media post calling Mr. Cuban “a really dumb guy,” and that, “I may, in fact, be surrounded by the strongest women in the World.”
Mr. Trump beat Ms. Harris among female voters aged 18-44. Ms. Harris won women 45 and older.
Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.