US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday announced his campaign manager, Susan Summerall Wiles, as White House chief of staff on Thursday.
Commending her effort during the campaign, Trump stated: “just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history” and “is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected”.
“It is a well-deserved honour to have Susie as the first-ever female chief of staff in United States history,” he continued. “I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”
In his victory speech this week, Trump referred to Wiles as “the ice maiden” as she stood behind him on stage.
She operates mostly “in the back”, the president-elect said, but she is known as one of the most feared political operatives in the US.
“Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,” he added in his statement on Thursday, referring to his oft-repeated campaign slogan.
She appeared with Trump on stage at his election night victory celebration, but chose not to speak, being the only one not to do so.
Trump went through four chiefs of staff — including one who served in an acting capacity for a year — during his first administration, part of record-setting personnel churn in his administration.
Wiles, 67, a Florida native is credited with running a more disciplined campaign operation than Trump’s first run.
The Trump transition team is currently working to choose top members of the incoming administration, including the heads of all 15 executive departments, such as the secretaries of state and defence, from 20 January.
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