newly elected president donald trump It was announced late Thursday that his campaign co-chair Susie Wills will serve as his White House chief of staff in January, the first woman to hold that position.
“Susie Wills helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and she was an integral part of both my successful 2016 and 2020 campaigns,” Trump said in a statement. “Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again. Appointing Susie as the first female Chief of Staff in the history of the United States is a An honorable honour. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”
Wills is known as a formidable political activist who prefers to work behind the scenes rather than in front of the camera. Trump asked him to come near the microphone declared victory Wednesday morning, but he declined, preferring to stay away from the limelight.
Alex Brandon/AP
Wills has managed to maintain Trump's favor not only with Curry but, more critically, by working in a high-profile campaign role, managing the ambitions, personalities and egos in Trump's orbit.
A Trump adviser said, “Susie Wills is a tremendous lawyer and a great boss at DJT.” “She knows how to bring people together.”
Wills worked for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and helped secure the governor's office for him. But DeSantis' relationship with him soured and Trump World took him under its wing. Wills helped Team Trump defeat his former boss in the Republican primaries.
Wills's father was The late Pat SummerallA famous sports broadcaster. Wills, now 67, has worked in behind-the-scenes roles shaping and guiding politicians in Florida for four decades.
The role of Chief of Staff is a demanding one, involving management of the President himself, in addition to the senior White House staff, and hundreds of people who work in the West Wing. But it also includes mapping and implementing the President's policy objectives, ambitions and legacy.
Trump had four chiefs of staff during his first term, and some of them parted ways on uneasy terms. Trump's longest-serving White House chief of staff, john kellySaid during the campaign that Trump met the definition of a fascist and warned against a second term for Trump. Reince Priebus, Mark Meadows, and Mick Mulvaney also played roles, although Mulvaney was only acting chief of staff.
Contributed to this report.