Newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, has officially announced the first appointment of his upcoming administration by selecting his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as the Chief of Staff for the White House. "Susie is tough, intelligent, innovative, and enjoys universal admiration and respect," Trump stated in a press release. He noted that she "will continue working tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It's a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first female Chief of Staff in U.S. history."
The 67-year-old Florida native, affectionately dubbed "the ice baby" by Trump and his inner circle, is known for her preference to remain behind the scenes. During Trump's victory speech at the West Palm Beach Convention Center, he called Wiles to join him on stage.
Wiles' Influence on Trump's Campaign
Local reports highlight Wiles' unique ability during the campaign to manage Trump's impulses not by reprimanding or lecturing him, but by earning his respect and demonstrating the advantages of heeding her advice. This approach set her apart as a key figure capable of influencing Trump in a positive way.
The role of Chief of Staff saw frequent changes during Trump's first term, with former General John Kelly having the longest tenure. Kelly has been one of Trump's former aides to describe him as fascistic.
Transition Team and Future Appointments
Trump's transition team anticipates that "in the coming weeks," more members of the federal executive will be announced. "Some individuals from Trump's first term will return, and there will be new faces joining the team," stated Jason Miller, a senior advisor to Trump, during an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday.
Trump's Resounding 2024 Election Victory
In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Trump achieved a decisive victory over Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Official results show Trump securing 295 electoral votes, significantly surpassing the 270 needed to win the presidency, while Harris garnered 226 electoral votes.
In terms of the popular vote, Trump received approximately 72,641,564 votes, equating to 50.88% of the total, compared to Harris's 67,957,895 votes, representing 47.60%. This margin reflects a lead of over 4.6 million votes in favor of Trump, underscoring his substantial advantage in the election.