WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump named Susie Wiles, the de facto manager of his victorious campaign, as White House chief of staff, the first woman to hold the influential role.

Wiles is widely credited within and outside Trump’s inner circle for running what was, by far, his most disciplined and well-executed campaign, and was considered the leading contender for the job. She largely avoided the spotlight, even refusing to take the microphone to speak as Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning. She resisted the official title of campaign manager, avoiding becoming a target, given Trump’s habit of going through people in that role.

Wiles’ hiring is Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test for his new administration as he must quickly build the team that will help him run the massive federal government. Wiles doesn’t bring much experience in the federal government, but has a close relationship with the president-elect.

During the campaign, Wiles was able to do what few others were able to do: help control Trump’s impulses – not by berating him or lecturing him, but by earning his respect and making him showing that it was better to follow his advice rather than flouting it. .

Trump experienced four chiefs of staff — including one who served in an acting role for a year — during his first administration, amid record churn. Many top aides were pushed out by Trump during his first term, who resented being made to feel managed or patronized, while others found themselves caught in internal ideological struggles within the split west wing.

“Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again,” Trump said in a statement. “It is a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in history of the United States. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.

Successful chiefs of staff serve as confidants to the president, help execute the presidential agenda, and balance competing political and strategic priorities. They also tend to serve as gatekeepers, helping determine who the president spends his time with and speaks to — an effort that Trump has chafed at in the White House.

The chief of staff is “absolutely essential to an effective White House,” said Chris Whipple, whose book “The Gatekeepers” details how the role of the White House chief of staff shapes and defines a presidency. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is to tell the president what he doesn’t want to hear.”

“On the positive side, she showed that she could handle Trump, that she worked with him, and that she could tell him some hard truths sometimes, and that’s really important,” Whipple said. “On the negative side, she really has no experience in the White House and it hasn’t really worked in Washington for 40 years. And that’s a real disadvantage.”

Wiles is a longtime Florida-based Republican strategist who managed Trump’s campaigns in the state in 2016 and 2020, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ successful bid in 2018. Before that, she managed the campaign of Rick Scott in 2010 for governor of Florida and served briefly. as manager of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential campaign.

Chris LaCivita, who with Wiles served as co-manager of the campaign, posted on X: “So happy and proud of one of the fiercest and most loyal warriors I have ever had the pleasure of working with! !!”

Wiles was seen by Trump aides as someone who could guide his moods and impulses without necessarily holding him back. Trump frequently referenced Wiles on the campaign trail, publicly praising his leadership for what he was often told was his “best-run campaign.”

“She’s amazing. Unbelievable,” he said at a rally in Milwaukee earlier this month,

At a rally in Pennsylvania where Trump made one of his final appearances before the election, he launched into a blasphemous, conspiracy-laden speech. Wiles was seen standing backstage and appearing to watch him.

Later, at a rally in Pittsburgh, Trump appeared to acknowledge his adviser’s efforts to keep the message on point.

After complaining that men are no longer allowed to call a woman “beautiful,” he asked if he could strike that word from the record. “I have the right to do that, don’t I, Susan Wiles?” he thought.