Trump to appoint the first-ever female as White House chief of staff in US history
Photo: US President-elect Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump will appoint Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff. She will become the first woman in American history to hold this influential position, according to the Associated Press and CNN.
"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," Trump said.
The publications specify that Wiles effectively leads the Republican's victorious campaign. She is widely recognized both within Trump's inner circle and beyond for managing his most disciplined and successful campaign. She was considered the leading contender for the White House chief of staff position.
Wiles largely avoided the spotlight, even refusing to take the microphone to speak when Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning. She resisted the formal title of campaign manager to avoid becoming a target due to Trump's history of replacing people in this role.
AP writes that Susie Wiles’ hiring is Trump’s first major decision as president-elect. It could become a decisive test for his future administration, as he needs to quickly assemble a team to help manage the massive federal government. While Wiles lacks extensive experience in federal government work, she has close ties with the newly elected president.
During the campaign, Wiles did what few others could: she helped control Trump’s impulses without reprimanding or lecturing him, earned his respect, and showed him that it was in his best interest to follow her advice rather than ignore it.
Eight years ago, Trump declined to plan his transition team carefully. Instead, he hired a mixed group of campaign aides, family members, and Republican insiders, who spent much of his first year in office embroiled in internal feuds that dominated media coverage of the new administration. Many experts consider this to be the key mistake that undermined the president, who was a newcomer to Washington and government when he took office.
As a result, Trump replaced four chiefs of staff — one of whom served as acting chief for a year — during his first administration, contributing to a record staff turnover. Trump also ousted many top aides during his first term, frustrated that they felt controlled or coddled, while others became caught up in ideological rifts within the factions of the West Wing.
Trump’s aides hope that Wiles’ selection signals that the president-elect aims to create a more cohesive team. However, it is almost certain to remain less traditional than those of his Democratic or Republican predecessors.
Trump, who in 2016 promised to hire "only the best people," has repeatedly stated since then that he believes the biggest mistake of his first term was hiring the wrong people. He said he was a newcomer to Washington then and didn’t know anything better. But now, according to Trump, he knows what "the best people" look like and who should be avoided for roles in his administration.
