Who is Susie Wiles, Trump’s White House chief of staff? 5 things to know

President-elect Donald Trump made history twice this week. First, he won the White House for the second time as a former president, and second, he named Susie Wiles as his chief of staff.

Wiles, a longtime Republican operative and adviser to President Trump, will be the first woman in U.S. history to hold the coveted position. No matter how you look at it, she won it. Wiles is credited with ramping up Trump's campaign after his 2020 presidential defeat and helping him win both the electoral college and the national popular vote in 2024, which is the Republican presidential nominee. This is an achievement that has not been achieved for 20 years.

President Trump announced his appointment to the White House on Thursday, saying, “Susie Wiles helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history.'' He was essential to our success.”

“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and admired and respected around the world. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again. “It is a well-deserved honor to appoint her as aide. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” he said.

Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Helps Former NFL Broadcasting Legend Pat Summerall Overcome Alcoholism

But while Wiles is known, respected, and even feared in Florida, he's less well-known in Washington, D.C., and certainly not nationally. So, who is Susie Wiles? Here are five things to know about the next White House chief of staff.

Her father is a legendary NFL broadcaster and she helped him overcome addiction

Wiles is the daughter of the late legendary NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall. Summerall was an NFL champion kicker and served as lead color commentator with John Madden on CBS for more than 20 years.

Summerall admitted that he became an alcoholic during his broadcasting career. In his 2006 biography, he details how his daughter Susie intervened and helped him overcome his addiction.

From left to right, New York Giants halfback Phil King, star placekicker Pat Summerall, and quarterback Don Heinrich have drinks at the local Lone Star Boat Club on Nov. 2. They drink and toast to celebrate their team's victory over the Green Bay Packers. Nov. 1, 20-3 at Yankee Stadium. Summerall scored eight points on two field goals and two extra point kicks. (Getty Images)

According to Summerall's 2006 autobiography, Wiles wrote in a letter read aloud during the intervention: “Dad, we've been together in public a few times recently and I'm embarrassed to say we have the same last name.'' ” he said. Off the Air. ”

Summerall wrote that her daughter's words inspired her to take steps to address her addiction.

Her first political job was with her father's old teammate.

In the late 1970s, Wiles was hired as an assistant to Summerall's former teammate with the New York Giants, who had gone on to a long and successful career in Congress and later been named vice president. It was none other than the late Jack Kemp, one of the main proponents of former President Ronald Reagan's supply-side economic theory and the author of the Reagan tax cuts.

Wiles worked for Reagan himself as a scheduler for his 1980 presidential campaign and continued to work in the White House. She left Washington, D.C., for Florida in the 1990s and served as Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney's chief of staff. She also worked as a district director for Congresswoman Tillie Fowler in Northeast Florida.

Sources say 'Ice Baby' Susie Wiles is a top candidate for Trump's Chief of Staff

Congressman Jack F. Kemp speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference. (Cynthia Johnson/Getty Images)

Delaney praised Wiles in an interview. politiko magazine. “I've described her as a political intellectual, but she just has an ethereal political instinct,” he said.

Mr. Wiles remained a fixture in Florida politics for decades, ultimately helping a health care executive named Rick Scott become governor in 2010. Scott is currently a junior senator from Florida and is celebrating his re-election to a second term this week.

She once described herself as a “card-carrying member of the Republican establishment,” but supported Trump.

Mr. Wiles has worked for every conceivable Republican, from moderates to conservative hardliners. But she surprised friends and allies in 2015 when she decided to become co-chair of the Trump campaign in Florida.

“As a card-carrying member of the Republican establishment, many people thought it was unwise, even crazy, for me to fully support candidate Trump,” Wiles said in a rare public statement. told the New York Times.

Former President Donald Trump watches the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets with senior election consultant Susie Wiles on October 20, 2024 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Evan Vucci Pool/Getty Images)

Despite facing skepticism, Wiles told the Tampa Bay Times at the time that among the Republicans running for president in 2016, he was the one who was ready to bring about the changes he believed needed in Washington, D.C. explained that he believed there was no one else. He said Republicans nationwide have developed a “culture of opportunism” and have lost sight of their core principles.

“I said, 'I don't want to continue like this.' I think it would seriously damage our republic, but who in that group really had the fortitude to change what I've seen for many years?” Can we have it?'' Wiles told the newspaper.

Her intuition turned out to be correct. Trump won the primary election, shocking the political world by defeating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in an upset.

She helped Ron DeSantis become governor before they fell out

In 2018, a young Florida congressman named Ron DeSantis decided to run for governor. He won a contentious Republican primary thanks to Trump's support, but his campaign struggled and he trailed in the polls.

With just over a month left until the election, DeSantis hired Wiles to right the ship. Her guidance was instrumental in leading DeSantis to a narrow victory over disgraced former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.

Trump nominates Susie Wiles as first female White House chief of staff

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump brings Susie Wiles to the stage during the Election Night Watch Party on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

However, after the election, a rift developed between DeSantis and Wiles. Politico reported The state's first lady, Casey DeSantis, questioned Wiles' growing influence and power in the governor's orbit. Eventually, Wiles was pushed out of DeSantis' inner circle.

She returned to Trump's orbit during his unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign and remains a close and valued advisor as Trump plans to return to the White House in 2024. Ta. She was with the Trump campaign when DeSantis launched his own presidential campaign, leading many to suspect that she was involved in Trump's campaign. The team used Wiles' inside information about DeSantis to defeat the Florida governor.

In January, Wiles responded to an X report that DeSantis had removed upcoming events from his campaign website.

“Goodbye, goodbye,” she wrote.

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she is a registered lobbyist

In addition to his political campaign work, Wiles is also a registered lobbyist.

Federal disclosure According to a report filed in April, Wiles was a lobbyist for tobacco company Swisher International while running the Trump campaign. Documents show she sought to influence Congress regarding “FDA regulations.”

Wiles is co-chair of the Florida and Washington, D.C., offices of Mercury Public Affairs, a lobbying firm whose clients include AirBnB, AT&T, eBay, Pfizer, Tesla and the Embassy of Qatar, but she is not a registered lobbyist. do not have. Any of those clients.

Previously, Wiles worked for Ballard Partners, a Florida-based firm founded by lobbyist Brian Ballard.

FOX News' Jackson Thompson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.