Trump's 'ice maiden' Susie Wiles makes startling demands before accepting top role in his administration
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Donald Trump's newly appointed chief of staff, Susie Wiles, reportedly made a series of startling demands before accepting the high-profile role in his administration.
Wiles, who Trump has described as the "ice maiden" and considered to be one of the most significant influences on his third campaign, was appointed to the top job on Thursday, November 7.
Susie Wiles makes startling demands before accepting role in Trump administration
Susie Wiles had reportedly sought assurances from president-elect Donald Trump before taking the role of the chief of staff, a source close to both Wiles and Trump informed CNN, according to Independent.
The insider stated that Wiles wanted confirmation that she would have more authority than her predecessors in controlling access to the Oval Office, before accepting the job, per the outlet.
Notably, the chief of staff is the first appointee named by the president-elect and is charged with overseeing all policy and day-to-day White House affairs.
Trump’s first term as president had a slew of "informal advisors", including family, friends, and other external voices, that affected his tendency to listen to the last person he spoke with, per Independent.
The source added that the "clown car" can’t come into the White House at will and Trump agrees with her.
Donald Trump describes Susie Wiles as 'tough, smart and innovative'
Donald Trump described Susie Wiles as "tough, smart, innovative" and an individual who was "universally admired and respected", while announcing her appointment on Thursday.
The President-elect said in a statement, "Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud."
Trump had always valued Wiles as a powerful behind-the-scenes operator. During his victory speech in Florida on Wednesday, November 6, the President-elect mentioned her little-known name seven times, per the outlet.
Trump said, "Susie likes to stay in the back, let me tell you. We call her the ice maiden. She is not in the background (anymore)."
A look at Susie Wiles' prolific career
Susie Wiles had earlier worked in Republican politics since the late 1970s and became a campaign scheduler on Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential bid, and later in his administration, according to the Independent.
She later ran Donald Trump’s Florida operations in his first bid to become president while living in Florida. Many credit her for Trump's win by 1.2 percentage points over his rival Hillary Clinton, per the outlet.
Moreover, she went on to help lead Ron DeSantis’s 2018 campaign for Florida governor, before a falling out that prompted DeSantis to lobby the Trump team to fire her. However, she was subsequently brought back for the 2020 campaign in Florida.
Trump’s reported willingness to accept Wiles’ demands is a gesture of his trust in her for a role that historically has a short shelf-life.
