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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Civic Brief • Political Strategist

Susie Wiles

Susie Wiles is an American political consultant and Republican strategist who became White House chief of staff in January 2025 in Donald Trump’s second administration.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Susie Wiles is an American political consultant and Republican strategist who became White House chief of staff in January 2025, the first woman to hold the post.

What it is

Susie Wiles, born Susan Summerall Wiles on May 14, 1957, in New Jersey, is a veteran Republican campaign operative. She earned a BA in English from the University of Maryland and has worked on campaigns from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, as well as in lobbying with firms like Ballard Partners.

Why it matters

Wiles broke a historic barrier as the first female White House chief of staff. She was widely credited as a key strategist behind Trump’s 2024 comeback, managing his campaign and shaping his second administration's early operations.

Key details

Wiles began her political career with Jack Kemp and later advised figures like Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis. She co-managed Trump’s 2024 campaign and assumed the chief of staff role on January 20, 2025. Her lobbying work includes roles at Ballard Partners and Mercury Public Affairs.

In short

  • First woman to serve as White House chief of staff.
  • Key strategist for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
  • Longtime Republican consultant and lobbyist.

Quick questions

Who is Susie Wiles?
She is an American political consultant and Republican strategist who became White House chief of staff in 2025.
Why is Susie Wiles notable?
She is the first woman to hold the White House chief of staff role and was a key architect of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.
What is Susie Wiles’s background?
She was born in New Jersey in 1957, earned a BA from the University of Maryland, and has worked on Republican campaigns and in lobbying.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Susie-Wiles
    Supports: Birth date and place, occupation, Republican work, and appointment as first woman White House chief of staff.
  2. Archives of Women's Political Communication — https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/susie-wiles
    Supports: Education, early career, lobbying work, and White House chief of staff role beginning in January 2025.
  3. Reuters — https://www.reuters.com/world/us/who-is-susie-wiles-ice-maiden-who-will-be-trumps-chief-staff-2024-11-08/
    Supports: Trump appointment, campaign leadership, and description of her role in organizing Trump’s 2024 campaign.
  4. OpenSecrets — https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2025/03/trump-administration-profile-susie-wiles/
    Supports: Campaign history, lobbying background, and appointment as chief of staff.
  5. POLITICO — https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/07/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-susie-wiles-00188391
    Supports: Lobbying roles, Mercury Public Affairs connection, and family background.