Can Susie Wiles keep Trump on track?

Summary

Consider This from NPR: Can Susie Wiles Keep Trump on Track?

Release Date: January 27, 2025

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Introduction

In the latest episode of NPR's Consider This, host Ailsa Chang delves into the dynamics of President Donald Trump's new White House by focusing on his recently appointed Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. The episode, titled "Can Susie Wiles Keep Trump on Track?", explores whether Wiles can bring the necessary discipline and order to an administration previously characterized by chaos and frequent turnover in key positions.

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Susie Wiles: The First Woman Chief of Staff

Background and Nickname

Susie Wiles makes history as the first woman to hold the position of White House Chief of Staff. Known affectionately by Trump allies as the "Ice Maiden," Wiles is lauded for her calm demeanor under pressure and her ability to operate effectively behind the scenes.

Ailsa Chang [00:33]: “Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you. The Ice Maiden. We call it the Iceman.”

Her reputation was further solidified when a Reuters photograph captured her managing a critical moment on the House floor during the contentious speaker vote, ensuring Trump's preferred candidate, Mike Johnson, secured the position.

Ailsa Chang [00:39]: “As the Ice Maiden nickname suggests, Wiles is praised by Trump allies for her calm under pressure and for her ability to work effectively from the background...”

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The Crucial Role of the White House Chief of Staff

Defining the Position

To shed light on the significance of Wiles's role, Chang speaks with journalist Chris Whipple, author of The Gatekeepers and How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency.

Chris Whipple [03:58]: “Every modern president has learned, often the hard way, that you cannot govern effectively without empowering a White House chief to execute your agenda.”

Whipple emphasizes that the Chief of Staff is pivotal in managing the president's schedule, advising on policy, and acting as a gatekeeper to the Oval Office. The effectiveness of this role can significantly influence the success or turmoil of an administration.

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Susie Wiles vs. Trump's Previous Chiefs of Staff

Failures of the Past

During Trump's first term, he cycled through four Chiefs of Staff, none of whom managed to impose lasting order or effectively execute his agenda. Whipple attributes this instability to Trump's lack of understanding of the Chief of Staff role.

Chris Whipple [07:12]: “He never empowered a White House chief to execute his agenda and tell him what he doesn't want to hear, which, of course, is the most important thing.”

What Sets Wiles Apart

Wiles brings a wealth of experience, having started her political career as a scheduler for Ronald Reagan at just 23 years old and later playing a crucial role in Trump's Florida campaigns. Her ability to maintain composure and strategically choose her battles stands in contrast to her predecessors.

Chris Whipple [08:19]: “Susie Wiles brings a couple of advantages that her predecessors never had... She seems to choose her fights carefully, maybe too carefully.”

Whipple notes that Wiles's temperament—marked by charm and abundance—is essential for navigating the complexities of the Trump administration.

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Early Indicators of Wiles's Leadership

First Week Performance

In the initial week of Trump's second term, the administration saw a flurry of executive actions implemented with remarkable speed. Chang questions whether this efficiency is a result of Wiles's leadership or the collective efforts of the advisory team.

Ailsa Chang [05:58]: “Do you attribute that to Susie Wiles in particular or to a whole host of advisors?”

Whipple responds with caution, suggesting it's premature to attribute the swift actions solely to Wiles, and critiques the "shock and awe" approach as potentially unsustainable.

Chris Whipple [05:58]: “I think the so called shock and awe has been certainly distracting, maybe effective in some cases, but it's no formula for long term success in the Oval Office.”

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Managing Internal Dynamics and External Influences

Balancing Power Within the White House

A notable aspect of Wiles's role involves managing influential figures within the administration, including businessman Elon Musk. Early tensions surfaced when Musk attempted to influence legislative processes, prompting Wiles to assert her authority by denying him an office in the West Wing.

Chris Whipple [09:14]: “She's already made it clear that he's not going to have an office in the West Wing.”

Whipple highlights the importance of Wiles establishing her presence and authority early on to maintain order and ensure that external influencers do not disrupt the administration's workflow.

Chris Whipple [09:30]: “To be an effective White House chief, she's going to have to be in the room for those decisions...”

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Potential Challenges Ahead

Imposing Discipline on a Trump White House

Despite her qualifications, Wiles faces the daunting task of imposing discipline in an environment historically resistant to structured governance under Trump. Whipple expresses skepticism about whether her approach will sustainably mitigate the inherent chaos of the administration.

Chris Whipple [09:30]: “An empowered White House chief really should be the last person in the room.”

The effectiveness of Wiles in this role remains to be seen, with all eyes on her ability to balance Trump's unpredictable leadership style with the demands of a stable and orderly White House.

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Conclusion

The episode underscores the pivotal role Susie Wiles plays in shaping the trajectory of President Trump's second term. While her track record and demeanor position her as a potentially stabilizing force, the unique challenges of the Trump administration test her ability to maintain order and execute the president's agenda effectively. As Wiles navigates internal power dynamics and external pressures, her success could redefine the functionality and effectiveness of the White House Chief of Staff position.

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Produced by Connor Donovan, with audio engineering by Jimmy Keeley, edited by Courtney Dorning, and executive produced by Sami Yenigun.

Transcript

[Ailsa Chang]

Anyone hoping to understand how President Trump's new White House might operate got an early clue last month. It was a shot by a Reuters photographer on the House floor as Republican members wrangled over who should be speaker. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene had an iPhone up to her ear, but you could read the name of the caller on the screen. Susie Wiles, Trump's campaign co chair and incoming chief of staff.

[Chris Whipple]

Come, Susie. Come here. Come here, Susie.

[Ailsa Chang]

Trump brought her on stage on election night for his victory speech.

[Chris Whipple]

Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you. The Ice Maiden. We call it the Iceman.

[Ailsa Chang]

That's right. As the Ice Maiden nickname suggests, Wiles is praised by Trump allies for her calm under pressure and for her ability to work effectively from the background, as demonstrated in that phone call with Marjorie Taylor Greene during the House speaker speaker vote. Trump's preferred pick, Mike Johnson, ultimately did win, winning over Republican holdouts.

[Chris Whipple]

The honorable Mike Johnson of the state of Louisiana, having received a majority of the votes cast, is duly elected speaker of the House of representatives for the 119th Congress.

[Ailsa Chang]

Consider this. A chief of staff can be the difference between between a groundbreaking presidency and chaos. Is Susie Wiles up to the task? From npr, I'm Ailsa Chang.

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[Ailsa Chang]

It's Consider this from NPR. Susie Wiles is doing something no woman has done before. She is the first in history to hold the position of White House Chief of staff. And now we will find out if she can do something that no one man nor woman has ever done before, and that is impose discipline and order on a Trump White House that was rife with leaks, drama, and by many accounts, chaos during his first term. For a look at Susie Wiles chances, I'm joined now by Journalist Chris Whipple. He's the author of several books, including the how the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency. Welcome.

[Chris Whipple]

Great to be with you.

[Ailsa Chang]

Great to have you. So I understand that at one point you had interviewed every living White House chief of staff. Is that still true?

[Chris Whipple]

Yeah, no, it is true. I interviewed all 17 living White House chiefs of staff for my book, the Gatekeepers. This was just before Trump came into office. And afterwards I interviewed Reince Priebus as well. So I can't say that I've interviewed every living chief to date, but I have interviewed the latest one, which is Susie Wiles.

[Ailsa Chang]

Yeah, well, as someone who has thought a lot about the job of Chief of staff, just describe what is the job? What does it entail in its essence?

[Chris Whipple]

Well, it's absolutely critical to the success of a presidency. Every modern president has learned, often the hard way, that you cannot govern effectively without empowering a White House chief to do a number of things, but most importantly, to execute your agenda. You know, Jimmy Carter, for example, was a president who thought he could run the White House by himself. It wasn't until the last year of his presidency that he finally appointed a real chief of staff. Donald Trump never got it during the first four years of his presidency. I don't think he ever understood the role of the White House chief. But Susie Wiles is going to try to change that.

[Ailsa Chang]

Yeah. Let's talk about Susie Wiles specifically and what you're noticing so far. I mean, before she even became President Trump's Chief of staff, she was the co chair of his presidential campaign. And I know that you follow Trump's campaign closely. You have a forthcoming book about it. What did you learn about Susie Wiles from her time in that role?

[Chris Whipple]

Well, she's an absolutely fascinating character. You know, she cut her teeth as a 23 year old scheduler for Ronald Reagan, later worked in his Labor Department, but she really spent most of her political career, really all of her political career in Florida. She was indispensable to Donald Trump's success in Florida, and he made her his 2024 CO chair. And she has this uncanny ability to impose some discipline on Trump's disorder. And that's going to be, of course, the ultimate test for her in the Trump White House.

[Ailsa Chang]

Well, now that she is White House Chief of Staff, you know, what we've seen just during the first week of Trump 2.0 is something vastly different right from the first week of his first term. Like, the administration unveiled and implemented a blizzard of executive actions with tremendous speed and Efficiency. Do you attribute that to Susie Wiles in particular or to a whole host of advisors?

[Chris Whipple]

I think it's too early to say to what extent this is Susie Wiles and how much of it is Trump. And, you know, I would question the efficiency, as you put it. I mean, I think the so called shock and awe has been certainly distracting, maybe effective in some cases, but it's no formula for long term success in the Oval Office. I'll never forget Erskine Bowles, Bill Clinton's third chief of staff, once told me that President Clinton used to have 1000 great ideas every day. And I'd have to turn them around, walk them back into the Oval office and say, Mr. President, you and I agreed that we were gonna do five or six things. If you stick to that, I can set up the focus and the structure to get that done. But you can't do a thousand things. Yeah, that's something that Trump is going to find out. Or not. He really didn't learn much about governing in his first four years.

[Ailsa Chang]

Let's talk about those first four years and how the role of chief of staff fit into Trump's world. Because during those first four years, what he had like four different chiefs of staff, none of them were able to impose order. Why not?

[Chris Whipple]

He did. He churned through four White House chiefs of staff. Part of it, the big, the major part of it is that Donald Trump has never really understood the position. I was amazed when he, when he appointed his fourth White House chief, Mark Meadows, and he said that Meadows was going to be his Jim Baker. Jim Baker, of course, was the legendary chief of staff to Ronald Reagan. And I finally realized what he meant. He thought he looked like Jim Baker. There was no resemblance between any of Donald Trump's chiefs of staff and the great White House chiefs, Jim Baker, Leon Panetta would be two, for example. And that was really the major problem. He never empowered a White House chief to execute his agenda and tell him what he doesn't want to hear, which, of course, is the most important thing.

[Ailsa Chang]

So what do you think Susie Wiles could do differently from her predecessors to make the relationship different than that relationship between previous chiefs of staff and President Trump?

[Chris Whipple]

So I think Susie Wiles brings a couple of advantages that her predecessors never had. I mean, I mentioned this uncanny ability she has to work with Trump. She seems to choose her fights carefully, maybe too carefully. I mean, most White House chiefs would have thrown their body in front of that decision to pardon 1500 insurrectionists. The other thing is that I think temperament is an underrated part of being White House chief of staff. And Susie Wiles has it. She has charm and abundance and she's going to need every bit of it to be successful.

[Ailsa Chang]

Well, I want to talk about a potential third person in this relationship, Elon Musk, because even before Trump was sworn in, we saw Elon Musk wading into a legislative fight over a government funding bill ahead of Trump. How do you see Wiles managing the Musk Trump dynamic?

[Chris Whipple]

Very carefully, I would say. And we've already seen to some extent Susie Wiles giving a sharp elbow to Musk. I think that she's already made it clear that he's not going to have an office in the West Wing.

[Ailsa Chang]

Right.

[Chris Whipple]

So round one to Susie Wiles, really. But it's going to be a fascinating dynamic to watch because I'm told that early on during the transition, it was really Trump and Musk and maybe Don Jr. They were essentially spitballing cabinet nominees and they were the ones who came up with Matt Gaetz. And Susie wasn't in the room. Well, to be an effective White House chief, she's going to have to be in the room for those decisions. In fact, an empowered White House chief really should be the last person in the room.

[Ailsa Chang]

Chris Whipple. He is the author of the Gatekeepers and also of the forthcoming How Trump Beat Biden Harris and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History. Thank you so much for joining us today.

[Chris Whipple]

My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

[Ailsa Chang]

This episode was produced by Connor Donovan with audio engineering by Jimmy Keeley. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Ailsa Chang.

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