President-elect Trump has appointed campaign manager Susie Wiles as his chief of staff.

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump named Susie Wiles, the de facto manager of his victorious campaign, as White House chief of staff, the first woman to hold the powerful role.

Wiles was widely praised in Trump’s inner circle and beyond for running what was by far his most disciplined and well-executed campaign, and he was considered a leading contender for the job. She largely avoided the spotlight and even refused to take the microphone to speak as Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning. She resisted the official title of campaign manager, avoiding becoming a target given Trump’s history of constantly changing people in the job.

Hiring Wiles is Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and could be a defining test of his new administration as he quickly builds a team to help run the massive federal government. Wiles doesn’t have much experience in the federal government, but he has a close relationship with the president-elect.

On the campaign trail, Wiles was able to do what few others have been able to do: help control Trump’s impulses—not by chiding him or lecturing him, but by earning his respect and showing him that he would be better off taking her advice than flouting it. .

During his first administration, Trump replaced four chiefs of staff, including one who served in the role for a year, part of a record turnover. Many senior aides were ousted during his first term by Trump, who resented being made to feel controlled or condescended to, while others were caught up in ideological infighting within the factionalized West Wing.

“Susie is strong, smart, innovative and admired and respected by everyone. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again,” Trump said in a statement. “I am deeply honored to have Susie become the first female Chief of Staff in the history of the United States. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”

Successful chief executives serve as confidantes to the president, helping to carry out his agenda and balance competing political and policy priorities. They also tend to act as gatekeepers, helping to determine who the president spends his time with and who he talks to—an effort that Trump has chafed inside the White House.

The chief of staff is “absolutely critical to an effective White House,” said Chris Whipple, whose book “Gatekeepers” details how the role of the White House chief of staff shapes and defines the presidency. “At the end of the day, the most important thing is to tell the president what he doesn’t want to hear.”

“On the other hand, she’s shown that she can manage Trump, that she works with him and can sometimes tell him the hard truth, and that’s really important,” Whipple said. “On the other hand, she really has no White House experience and hasn’t worked in Washington for 40 years. And this is a real disadvantage.”

Wiles is a longtime Florida Republican strategist who managed Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns in the state and also successfully challenged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018. She previously managed Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign for governor of Florida, a position she briefly held. as manager of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential campaign.

Chris LaCivita, who co-managed the campaign with Wiles, wrote on X: “I’m so happy and proud of one of the fiercest and most dedicated warriors I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with!!!”

Trump’s aides viewed Wiles as someone who could manage his moods and impulses without necessarily restraining them. Trump frequently referenced Wiles on the campaign trail, publicly praising her leadership in what he said he was often told was his “best campaign yet.”

“She’s incredible. Unbelievable,” he said at a rally in Milwaukee earlier this month.

At a rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump made one of his last appearances before the election, he delivered a profane, conspiracy-laden speech. Wiles was spotted standing backstage, staring at him.

Later, at a rally in Pittsburgh, Trump appeared to acknowledge his adviser’s efforts to keep him informed.

After complaining that men were no longer allowed to call a woman “beautiful,” he asked if he could strike the word from the record. “I’m allowed to do this, aren’t I, Susan Wiles?” – he thought.