A thread on Susie Wiles having covered her for a decade:
In 2019, I wrote a story that ended up becoming very problematic for her. It detailed how she oversaw a plan to arrange golf outings & dinners with FL Gov. Ron DeSantis in exchange for 5- and 6-figure political donations.
In 2019, I wrote a story that ended up becoming very problematic for her. It detailed how she oversaw a plan to arrange golf outings & dinners with FL Gov. Ron DeSantis in exchange for 5- and 6-figure political donations.
You can read the story here: tampabay.com/florida-politi…
After it published, DeSantis pushed Wiles out of his political operation. But it also resulted in her ousting from President Trump's orbit as well (remember, Don and Ron were close allies at the time). It was a low point for Susie, who also left her lobbying gig and was adrift.
I mention this episode amid the fallout from the Vanity Fair article for a few reasons. 1) The resilience of Susie Wiles cannot be understated.
From that low point, she made herself into Trump's most valuable political aide and confidant, exacted revenge on DeSantis, won a presidential election and became the country's first female chief of staff. The story of Trump's comeback is also a story about Susie’s comeback.
2) Many of the people who remained by Susie’s side through that difficult period are now in the White House or working for Trump. Those she works with have always been incredibly committed to her. Some have worked with her or taken advice from her for more than a decade.
The group includes Trump's top staff and many of his Florida-centric Cabinet members. But she has also won over many longtime stalwarts by standing alongside Trump after he left Washington in 2021 — from Laura Loomer to Don Jr.
(Notice, too, in speaking to VF she praised two of Trump's most contentious secretaries, Hegseth and RFK Jr., with whom she has less history but have since defended her publicly. In RFK Jr.'s case, he has gone to bat for her multiple times amid some discontent from MAHA.)
All that said...
3) Your standing in Trump's world can change in an instant. Anyone who has worked for Trump knows this. And Wiles experienced this firsthand during the aforementioned 2019 episode.
3) Your standing in Trump's world can change in an instant. Anyone who has worked for Trump knows this. And Wiles experienced this firsthand during the aforementioned 2019 episode.
Now, Trump clearly believes he still needs her. We have not heard anything to suggest that her job is at risk as he enters his year two in office. The outpouring of support after the VF story dropped is illustrative of the loyalty she still commands & her place atop the pyramid.
(Read more about that public and private reaction here in a story published today along with @KristenhCNN and @alaynatreene.
)cnn.com/2025/12/17/pol…
)cnn.com/2025/12/17/pol…
All of that is to say is that Wiles has come back from much worse than this Vanity Fair saga to ensure her place in Trump's orbit...
At the same time, Trump cycled through four Chiefs of Staff in his first term. And he has pushed Wiles out once before. Would he do it again?
At the same time, Trump cycled through four Chiefs of Staff in his first term. And he has pushed Wiles out once before. Would he do it again?
***The resilience of Susie Wiles cannot be OVERSTATED. This is why I don't do threads.
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