Susan L. Wiles, born Susan L. Summerall on May 14, 1957, has carved a prominent path in American politics. As a government official, political consultant, and lobbyist, her career spans decades and encompasses roles in various campaigns and administrations. Since January 2025, she has served as the 32nd White House chief of staff.
Early Career and Education
Wiles's journey began with her graduation from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1978. While at the university, she started working for New York representative Jack Kemp. Her early involvement in politics continued as she joined Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign in his scheduling office. She further gained experience in the White House Office of Scheduling and Advance, and later worked for Raymond J. Donovan, the secretary of labor.
Transition to Florida and Local Politics
In 1985, Wiles moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with her husband and two children. That year, Wiles worked for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and led Jacksonville mayor Jake Godbold's public relations team. After the birth of her second child, she went on sabbatical. By 1988, she had been living in Arcadia, where she was a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce of DeSoto County and received an honor for co-leading the organization's women's forums that year.
She served as the district director for Tillie Fowler's 1992 campaign to represent Florida's fourth congressional district. Wiles worked within the administration of Jacksonville mayor John Delaney and served as his chief of staff from 1997 to 2000. Wiles oversaw Peyton's key initiatives, including early literacy, restoring the St. Johns River, and an anti-crime program. In June 2008, she stepped down to spend time with her family and travel. By February 2009, Wiles had worked for Republic Services; concurrently, Peyton sought a US$750 million proposal for Waste Management to continue operating Jacksonville's landfill.
Campaign Management and Rick Scott
In the 2010 Florida gubernatorial election, Wiles worked as Rick Scott's campaign manager. After Scott's victory, she served as Jon Huntsman Jr.'s campaign manager for his presidential campaign. However, she resigned after less than a month amid a dispute with John Weaver.
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Involvement with Donald Trump's Campaigns
In October 2015, Wiles was hired as a Florida campaign chairwoman for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. She became his campaign manager for Florida in September 2016. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Brian D. Ballard introduced Wiles to Trump, who was delighted that Wiles's father was Pat Summerall. Her role was described by The New York Times as "pivotal" in connecting Trump with local activists and political figures. She was named as a delegate for Florida at the 2016 Republican National Convention in May 2016.
Her strategy involved incorporating Trump's bombastic style with the Republican National Committee's ground operations, though the campaign's own ground game in Florida suffered from funding issues. In the weeks leading up to the election, she pushed for an absentee ballot program. Trump later won the state and the election.
After Trump won that year's presidential election, Wiles moved to Washington, D.C., to lead Ballard Partners with Brian Ballard.
Ron DeSantis and Rejoining Trump
In September 2018, she was hired to lead Ron DeSantis's campaign for the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election. By the following year, a feud between Wiles and DeSantis allies, including his wife, Casey, led to her removal from Trump's 2020 campaign.
Amid polls showing Joe Biden beating Trump in Florida, advisors urged Trump to rehire Wiles. By June 2020, Trump was considering rehiring Wiles. The following month, she returned to the Trump campaign as an unpaid advisor to organizers of the Republican National Convention. Wiles was among several Florida Republicans advocating for Trump to nominate Barbara Lagoa to the Supreme Court following the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
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Post-Presidential Activities and 2024 Campaign
In March 2021, following his loss, Trump named Wiles to lead his fundraising operations, including Save America, a political action committee. Wiles managed much of Trump's post-presidential activities, including his travel, fundraising, and endorsements for the 2022 elections. She established a vetting process for endorsements that involved polling and field research, though she also worked to influence Trump's recommendations. Leading up to the 2022 Senate election in Arizona, Wiles and Peter Thiel advocated for Blake Masters in the Republican primary. At Wiles's suggestion, Chris Kise joined Trump's legal team to represent him in the classified documents case. She led a successful effort to eliminate Liz Cheney, a representative who opposed Trump, in that year's Republican primary for Wyoming's at-large district.
In November, Trump announced that he was running in the 2024 election. Wiles was named as his campaign manager alongside Chris LaCivita.
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