Suzy Wells likes to be behind the scenes.Image: trapezoid
She will become Trump's chief of staff, making her one of the most powerful and central figures in the future U.S. government. Who is Suzy Wells?
November 8, 2024, 09:11November 8, 2024 09:40
It’s an undeniable irony: Donald Trump has appointed the first woman in American history as chief of staff, of all people. But who is the successful campaign manager who is said to be able to control “some of Donald Trump's worst impulses”?
Wiles biography
Susan Summerall, her real name, was born in New Jersey, the daughter of former NFL football player Pat Summerall and his wife Cheri. Her father later became a nationally renowned sportswriter. Wiles studied at the University of Maryland and was 67 years old.
Years of campaign manager experience
Wiles has extensive experience in the political arena. She began working in Washington in the 1970s. Under Republican icon Ronald Reagan, bigger tasks followed. She served as a mastermind in his campaign and later in his administration.
Wiles already worked for the Republican Party under Ronald Reagan.Image source: Associated Press
After the Reagan chapter ended, Wiles continued her career in Florida, where she first led a (successful) campaign for a Republican politician. Among other things, Rick Scott helped propel himself to the governorship.
Wiles spent years working for moderate Republicans such as former Utah Gov. John Huntsman, who later became ambassador to China and Russia under Donald Trump. Huntsman was harshly critical of Trump's actions during the storming of the Capitol.
But as early as 2016, Wiles entered the Trump campaign team. She led the campaign in Florida – where Trump was able to win and was a decisive factor in his first bid for the White House.
Wiles in 2016.Picture: www.imago-images.de
DeSantis Chapter
She later put her skills to use for Ron DeSantis. She also helped get him elected governor of Florida.
But the two fell out. DeSantis also has a rocky relationship with Trump, and he wants nothing to do with her anymore. But when Trump appointed Wiles to his 2024 campaign, the two clashed again, with dire consequences for the Florida governor.
Trump’s campaign in the primaries — coupled with his own missteps — gave DeSantis such a rough time that he meekly bowed out and is now meekly backing Trump . Leading the event: Susie Wiles. This was done in an extremely malicious way and, as is often the case with Trump, was directed entirely at the man. These activists benefited greatly from insider knowledge about DeSantis, knowledge that many suspected came from Wiles, who was more than happy to repay DeSantis for his firing.
The person “destroyed” by Susie Wiles was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.Image: trapezoid
your character
Relatively little is known about Wiles, despite his years of experience and work as a campaigner for the Republican leadership, Florida television station West Palm Beach News (WPBF) reported. She is considered sharp, friendly and pleasant to work with, but she prefers to stay behind the scenes and avoids interviews. As most successful campaign managers do, she left the spotlight to her distinguished superiors.
As the Economic Times writes, the 67-year-old has another thing in common with them: She can be absolutely ruthless. You don’t want a 67-year-old to be your enemy — as people like Ron DeSantis can painfully attest to.
Another quality that set Wiles apart, according to her peers, was her calmness. As Trump campaign co-director Chris Lacivita and others have said, she never lost her cool.
Trump with two of his campaign strategists, Suzy Wells and Chris LaCivita.Image: trapezoid
Her nickname and her relationship with Trump
Perhaps it was this quality that led Donald Trump to call Wiles an “ice maiden” during his victory speech on Wednesday. The 78-year-old spoke highly of his manager on several occasions during the campaign. He emphasized many times that she was incredible. He has also repeatedly said that his ongoing third campaign is the best organized yet.
Wiles is said to know exactly how to deal with Trump and that he respects her abilities. This allowed her to “control some of Trump's worst impulses,” WPBF wrote.
A scene from the final stages of the campaign is emblematic of this. When Trump gave a speech in Pennsylvania and began downplaying violence against unpopular journalists, Wiles intervened. She walked up to the podium and stared silently at Trump with a steely gaze that meant she could indeed talk sense into him.
Wiles told Trump to wake up.Screenshotx
Wiles to be future chief of staff
As a future chief of staff, Wiles is sure to be in the spotlight more often. The position is considered the most influential advisory position in the president's cabinet. Beyond that, appointment coordination is the responsibility of the chief of staff — so Wiles has influence over who Trump meets with as president. The Chief of Staff also helps implement the political agenda and determine strategic priorities. Arguably, she is the most important whisperer for the President of the United States.
During Trump’s first term, he changed his chiefs of staff at will — a position that all four candidates tried for but ultimately fell out of favor with. Starting in January, Susie Wiles, the first woman in American history, will be able to try for the position. The possibility exists that it will last longer than its predecessor – which is certainly not the worst prerequisite if you are said to be able to control Donald Trump's impulses.
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