President-Elect Donald Trump just announced his first, and most critical, cabinet appointment: Chief of Staff.

President Donald J. Trump Announces Susan Summerall Wiles as White House Chief of Staff pic.twitter.com/rzU3Zj6d0j

— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) November 7, 2024

The 45th and 47th President of the United States of America Donald J. Trump announced today that Susan Summerall Wiles, the winning Campaign Manager for President Trump’s highly successful 2024 Campaign for President, will be named President Trump’s White House Chief of Staff.

 “Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns,” President Trump said. “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.”

Wiles is a smart choice and an historic one. She will be the first female Chief of Staff in U.S. history.

The daughter of the late sportscaster Pat Summerall, Wiles worked as a scheduler during the 1980 campaign of Ronald Reagan, and became a staff assistant to then-Rep. Jack Kemp (R-NY) during Reagan's first term. She married, moved to Florida, and then divorced, but maintained her pulse on politics. She is known as the person that helped Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) to victory in his 2010 Florida gubernatorial race. Wiles also saved Ron DeSantis' 2018 campaign for governor and helped him win his narrow victory over Democrat Andrew Gillum.

Vice President-Elect JD Vance had great things to say about his boss' choice.

This is great news. Susie was a huge asset to President Trump on the campaign and will be a huge asset in the White House. She's also just a really good person. Onward! pic.twitter.com/Yj1aLYK4So

— JD Vance (@JDVance) November 7, 2024

Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's name had also been floated as a potential Chief of Staff. According to reports, McCarthy claimed he would decline the position, and affirmed that Wiles would be a good choice. It is notable that unlike former D.C.-swamp dwellers like Reince Priebus, John Kelly, and Mark Meadows, Wiles has been a longtime ally of Trump and has a reputation for being a steady hand and presence, while also having the mettle to call out the president-elect when necessary. 

The 67-year-old Wiles told the Wall Street Journal, “You don’t have to shout to get noticed. I don’t want to be in the spotlight. I think it hampers your ability to be effective.”

But when Kamala Harris surrogate Mark Cuban made his ridiculous remarks about Trump that, “You never see him around strong intelligent women, ever,” Wiles, who shies away from the spotlight and is judicious with her social media presence, stepped up with other women who have worked with President-Elect Trump or were currently on the campaign team to put Cuban in his place:

Wiles rarely comments on social media and has posted just a few family photos on Instagram. But this week she took the rare opportunity to fire back at billionaire Mark Cuban after he said of Trump, “You never see him around strong intelligent women, ever.”

I’m told @mcuban needs help identifying the strong and intelligent women surrounding Pres. Trump. Well, here we are! I’ve been proud to lead this campaign. Complimented by @Linda_McMahon,Chair for Transition Policy and @LaraLeaTrump,RNC Co-Chair. pic.twitter.com/X7y9q3WsG8

— Susie Wiles (@susie57) October 31, 2024

I’m told @mcuban needs help identifying the strong and intelligent women surrounding Pres. Trump. Well, here we are! I’ve been proud to lead this campaign. Complimented by @Linda_McMahon,Chair for Transition Policy and @LaraLeaTrump,RNC Co-Chair.

Though she will still be behind the scenes, Wiles is once again stepping to help Trump run the country.