5 Key Facts About Susie Wiles: Insights and Details
She is considered a Washington outsider, having dedicated a significant part of her career to politics in Florida.
TroibNews 
Susie Wiles is poised to become one of Washington's most influential figures, though many are just beginning to familiarize themselves with her background.
A seasoned figure in Florida politics, Wiles has transitioned from Donald Trump’s 2016 Florida campaign director to a senior adviser for his 2024 campaign. She is recognized for establishing a disciplined and professional campaign operation that not only helped Trump achieve a decisive Electoral College victory but likely a popular vote win as well.
Her appointment isn't surprising; Wiles has gained the respect of Trump and shown a unique capacity to manage his impulses—something that few others have successfully accomplished. Trump noted that Wiles is “tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected.”
However, Wiles is still considered an outsider in Washington with minimal governmental experience, which could present challenges as she takes on one of the most demanding and complex staff roles in governance. At 67, she is typically private, often avoiding the limelight—she seemed hesitant to speak at Trump’s victory speech, suggesting that she believes a more understated, behind-the-scenes approach can be advantageous.
Here are five key insights about Wiles:
**Campaign Expertise Over Government Experience**
Wiles has been a prominent figure in Florida politics for many years, playing significant roles in winning campaigns for both Trump and Ron DeSantis. She is known for rescuing DeSantis' struggling 2018 campaign for governor while he was still a relatively unknown congressman. Following her departure from DeSantis’s team, he persuaded the Trump campaign to let her go ahead of the 2020 election.
Wiles held onto her grievances from this split and adeptly used her insider knowledge to critique DeSantis when he faced Trump in the recent GOP primary. Although she generally avoids social media, she marked the end of DeSantis' presidential run with a now-deleted post on X, writing “Bye, bye.”
Before her work with Trump, Wiles had substantial experience in local and national campaigns, including roles in private-sector lobbying for firms like Ballard Partners and Mercury. Early in her career, she was the chief of staff for the mayor of Jacksonville and held various positions working with Congress and in the Department of Labor.
**Wide-ranging Republican Associations**
Wiles' background encompasses a broad spectrum of Republican figures, from Mitt Romney to Rick Scott. In addition to working for Rep. Jack Kemp, she served as a scheduler for former President Ronald Reagan and worked within Reagan's Labor Department.
Her political resume includes positions such as deputy director of operations for the Bush-Quayle vice presidential campaign in 1988 and co-chair for Romney's Florida advisory council during his 2012 run. She was also instrumental in Scott’s 2010 Florida gubernatorial campaign and briefly managed Jon Huntsman’s 2016 presidential effort.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a one-time rival of Trump, praised Wiles, calling her a “great choice” for chief of staff. Wiles faced initial skepticism from some GOP operatives when she joined Trump's 2016 campaign. She explained to the Tampa Bay Times that none of the other candidates represented the kind of change Washington desperately needed. "I said, 'I don't want this to continue. I think it seriously will damage our republic and who among that group can really have the fortitude to shift what I've seen happening over all these years?'" she elaborated.
Wiles has also learned to overlook some of Trump’s more controversial traits and statements. "I will tell you this: The Donald Trump that I have come to know does not behave that way, and the lens that I look at him through, I don't see any of that. I see strengths, I see smarts, I see a work ethic that is unparalleled," she stated in 2016. "I blanch sometimes. But, again, it's not the Donald Trump that I have come to know."
**Transforming Chaos into Organization**
Wiles played a pivotal role in transforming Trump’s chaotic political landscape into a more structured operation. Following Trump's political downturn in 2021—after losing reelection and facing dwindling support post-Jan. 6—he enlisted Wiles to oversee his comeback.
Since then, observers on both sides of the aisle have noted that Trump’s current bid for office has become a notably professional endeavor, despite Trump’s tendencies toward chaos. Wiles has effectively managed to keep Trump focused and curbed some politically detrimental behaviors, advising him to temper his rhetoric regarding the 2020 election and encouraging mail-in voting among his supporters.
Chris LaCivita, who co-managed the campaign with Wiles, remarked, "She just has a master ability to manage multiple things of significance simultaneously," emphasizing her role as the ideal choice from a management perspective. He added, "Organization matters … because if you don't pay attention to the small things, the big things will slip by."
**Established Lobbyist**
Wiles has also built a successful career as a lobbyist, including a tenure with tobacco company Swisher International while leading the Trump campaign. She is a significant figure at lobbying powerhouse Mercury, whose client roster includes major corporations like SpaceX and AT&T, as well as the Embassy of Qatar.
Having been part of Trump’s latest campaign since 2022, she lobbied Congress concerning “FDA regulations” between 2023 and early 2024, during which Mercury received $120,000 for its work with Swisher before ending the relationship earlier this year. Mercury CEO Kieran Mahoney expressed his support for Wiles’ new role, stating, “This is great news for the country. Susie has been a valued colleague. We are all proud of her and wish her the best."
**Family Connections and Personal Background**
Wiles hails from New Jersey and is one of the three children of renowned sportscaster Pat Summerall. Her initial foray into politics was as an assistant to Kemp, who played alongside Summerall in the New York Giants.
Summerall, who struggled with alcoholism, credited Wiles with motivating him to seek treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic. In his memoir, he remarked, “I hadn’t been there much for my kids, but Susan’s letter made it clear that I’d hurt them even in my absence.” After his passing in 2013, Wiles described him as “an extraordinary man and a wonderful father."
Additionally, one of Wiles’ colleagues noted her familial connection to Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, the U.S. naval officer known for his pivotal role in ending Japan’s isolation and fostering trade and diplomatic relations with the West in the 1850s.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
A seasoned figure in Florida politics, Wiles has transitioned from Donald Trump’s 2016 Florida campaign director to a senior adviser for his 2024 campaign. She is recognized for establishing a disciplined and professional campaign operation that not only helped Trump achieve a decisive Electoral College victory but likely a popular vote win as well.
Her appointment isn't surprising; Wiles has gained the respect of Trump and shown a unique capacity to manage his impulses—something that few others have successfully accomplished. Trump noted that Wiles is “tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected.”
However, Wiles is still considered an outsider in Washington with minimal governmental experience, which could present challenges as she takes on one of the most demanding and complex staff roles in governance. At 67, she is typically private, often avoiding the limelight—she seemed hesitant to speak at Trump’s victory speech, suggesting that she believes a more understated, behind-the-scenes approach can be advantageous.
Here are five key insights about Wiles:
**Campaign Expertise Over Government Experience**
Wiles has been a prominent figure in Florida politics for many years, playing significant roles in winning campaigns for both Trump and Ron DeSantis. She is known for rescuing DeSantis' struggling 2018 campaign for governor while he was still a relatively unknown congressman. Following her departure from DeSantis’s team, he persuaded the Trump campaign to let her go ahead of the 2020 election.
Wiles held onto her grievances from this split and adeptly used her insider knowledge to critique DeSantis when he faced Trump in the recent GOP primary. Although she generally avoids social media, she marked the end of DeSantis' presidential run with a now-deleted post on X, writing “Bye, bye.”
Before her work with Trump, Wiles had substantial experience in local and national campaigns, including roles in private-sector lobbying for firms like Ballard Partners and Mercury. Early in her career, she was the chief of staff for the mayor of Jacksonville and held various positions working with Congress and in the Department of Labor.
**Wide-ranging Republican Associations**
Wiles' background encompasses a broad spectrum of Republican figures, from Mitt Romney to Rick Scott. In addition to working for Rep. Jack Kemp, she served as a scheduler for former President Ronald Reagan and worked within Reagan's Labor Department.
Her political resume includes positions such as deputy director of operations for the Bush-Quayle vice presidential campaign in 1988 and co-chair for Romney's Florida advisory council during his 2012 run. She was also instrumental in Scott’s 2010 Florida gubernatorial campaign and briefly managed Jon Huntsman’s 2016 presidential effort.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a one-time rival of Trump, praised Wiles, calling her a “great choice” for chief of staff. Wiles faced initial skepticism from some GOP operatives when she joined Trump's 2016 campaign. She explained to the Tampa Bay Times that none of the other candidates represented the kind of change Washington desperately needed. "I said, 'I don't want this to continue. I think it seriously will damage our republic and who among that group can really have the fortitude to shift what I've seen happening over all these years?'" she elaborated.
Wiles has also learned to overlook some of Trump’s more controversial traits and statements. "I will tell you this: The Donald Trump that I have come to know does not behave that way, and the lens that I look at him through, I don't see any of that. I see strengths, I see smarts, I see a work ethic that is unparalleled," she stated in 2016. "I blanch sometimes. But, again, it's not the Donald Trump that I have come to know."
**Transforming Chaos into Organization**
Wiles played a pivotal role in transforming Trump’s chaotic political landscape into a more structured operation. Following Trump's political downturn in 2021—after losing reelection and facing dwindling support post-Jan. 6—he enlisted Wiles to oversee his comeback.
Since then, observers on both sides of the aisle have noted that Trump’s current bid for office has become a notably professional endeavor, despite Trump’s tendencies toward chaos. Wiles has effectively managed to keep Trump focused and curbed some politically detrimental behaviors, advising him to temper his rhetoric regarding the 2020 election and encouraging mail-in voting among his supporters.
Chris LaCivita, who co-managed the campaign with Wiles, remarked, "She just has a master ability to manage multiple things of significance simultaneously," emphasizing her role as the ideal choice from a management perspective. He added, "Organization matters … because if you don't pay attention to the small things, the big things will slip by."
**Established Lobbyist**
Wiles has also built a successful career as a lobbyist, including a tenure with tobacco company Swisher International while leading the Trump campaign. She is a significant figure at lobbying powerhouse Mercury, whose client roster includes major corporations like SpaceX and AT&T, as well as the Embassy of Qatar.
Having been part of Trump’s latest campaign since 2022, she lobbied Congress concerning “FDA regulations” between 2023 and early 2024, during which Mercury received $120,000 for its work with Swisher before ending the relationship earlier this year. Mercury CEO Kieran Mahoney expressed his support for Wiles’ new role, stating, “This is great news for the country. Susie has been a valued colleague. We are all proud of her and wish her the best."
**Family Connections and Personal Background**
Wiles hails from New Jersey and is one of the three children of renowned sportscaster Pat Summerall. Her initial foray into politics was as an assistant to Kemp, who played alongside Summerall in the New York Giants.
Summerall, who struggled with alcoholism, credited Wiles with motivating him to seek treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic. In his memoir, he remarked, “I hadn’t been there much for my kids, but Susan’s letter made it clear that I’d hurt them even in my absence.” After his passing in 2013, Wiles described him as “an extraordinary man and a wonderful father."
Additionally, one of Wiles’ colleagues noted her familial connection to Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, the U.S. naval officer known for his pivotal role in ending Japan’s isolation and fostering trade and diplomatic relations with the West in the 1850s.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
