Susie Wiles Will Ice Out Anyone in Trumpworld Who Wants to ‘Be a Star’
The incoming White House chief of staff says she has one focus: “the mission.”
Brian Snyder/Reuters
President-elect Donald Trump’s “Ice Maiden” chief of staff, Susie Wiles, wants a drama-free West Wing in order to protect the integrity of “the mission.”
Wiles, who reportedly agreed to help Trump during his political nadir in March 2021, said in an interview Monday with Axios that troublemakers will not be “tolerated.” “I don’t welcome people who want to work solo or be a star,” Wiles said. “My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission.”
Susie Wiles listens as Donald Trump speaks to staff and reporters in June 2023.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post
Drama and disorganization were the order of the day in the opening weeks of Trump’s first stint in the White House, so the 67-year-old under-the-radar campaign manager, whom he also has called “Ice Baby,” has come in to steady the ship. Politico reported in November that Wiles is “widely admired, trusted and respected by lawmakers and young staffers alike.”
She said focus has already shifted to “rolling back redundant and burdensome regulations, keeping taxes low, cutting government waste through DOGE [the new Department of Government Efficiency], and most importantly, sealing the border and deporting criminals who are in this country illegally.”
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected,” Trump wrote in a statement in November, announcing Wiles as his enforcer. “I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”
And as if her words were plucked straight from the MAGA chief’s lips, she bemoaned to Axios the “impeachment attempts and other witch hunts,” during Trump’s first administration.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
“I have every hope that the 47 administration will not have the same number of attempts to put sand in the gears,” she said. “We are off to a fast start with congressional work, hiring the best people, preliminary discussion with heads of state, fine-tuning his [Trump’s] policy agenda, and planning for the first 100 days.”
Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign team was led by both Chris LaCivita (left), and Susie Wiles (center).
Brian Snyder/Reuters
She said Trump is trying to avoid bumps in the road on the West Wing by picking the best suited professionals for his Cabinet, and his insistence on personally interviewing each leadership candidate.
Wiles added that the West Wing staff will be a mixture of new faces and old heads, all prepared to work “punishing hours.”
And, perhaps unlike her boss, she gave a glowing appraisal of the ease of transition with President Joe Biden’s team, saying the outgoing president’s chief of staff—Jeff Zients—has been “very helpful.”
Wiles’ direct work with Trump began in 2016, when she handled his Florida campaign. Two years later, she helped get Ron DeSantis elected as governor of Florida, though she said later that she regretted taking that job. In early 2021, Wiles was named CEO of Trump’s fundraising operation, Save America PAC.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.