Who is Trump’s new chief of staff?

US President-elect Donald Trump has just announced that his campaign manager, Susan Summerall Wiles, will serve as White House chief of staff when he assumes the presidency next year.

In a statement, Trump said that Wiles “just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history” and “is tough, smart, creative and universally admired and respect”.

“It is an honor to have Susie as the first female chief of staff in American history,” he continued. “I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”

Wiles, 67, is the first woman appointed as White House chief of staff.

Trump’s transition team is currently working to select top members of the incoming Republican administration, including the heads of all 15 executive agencies, such as secretaries of state and defence, from 20 January.

In his victory speech this week, Trump called Wiles an “ice maiden” as she stood behind him on stage.

The president-elect said she mainly operates “in the background,” but she is known as one of the most feared political operatives in America.

“Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again,” he added in a statement Thursday, referencing his oft-repeated campaign slogan.

A profile by Politics earlier this year describes Susie Wiles as fearsome but little known.

Less than a year after Wiles became active in politics, she joined Ronald Reagan’s campaign before his 1980 election.

She continues to play an important role in changing politics in Florida, where she lives.

In 2010, she turned Rick Scott, a businessman with little political experience at the time, into the governor of Florida after just 7 months. Scott is currently a United States senator.

Wiles met Trump during the 2015 Republican presidential primary and became co-chairman of his Florida campaign. He went on to win against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who put her in charge of his successful governor’s race two years later, described Wiles as “the best in the business.”

Wiles worked on Trump’s campaign alongside Chris LaCivita, a Republican political veteran with decades of experience.

Both worked with Trump to craft a winning primary strategy.

In her Politico profile, the 67-year-old grandmother – daughter of the late American football player and broadcaster Pat Summerall – said she comes from a “traditional” political background.

“In my early career, things like manners were important and a level of decency was expected,” she said, describing the Republican Party as significantly different from the party of several decades. last century.

“And so I understand that the GOP is different today,” she said, referring to the Republican party, also known as the Grand Old Party (GOP).

“There are changes that we have to accept to accomplish what we’re trying to do.”

The chief of staff is considered the president’s top assistant and plays an important role in each president’s administration.

They essentially act as White House managers and are responsible for assembling the president’s staff. A chief leads the staff through the Executive Office of the President and oversees all daily operations and staff activities.

They also advise presidents on policy matters and are responsible for directing and overseeing policy development.