Trump’s Chief of Staff Promises A ‘Drama’ Free White House: ‘Counterproductive To The Mission’
Donald Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is determined to have a drama-free White House comprised of hard-working staff who don’t seek the spotlight.
“I don’t welcome people who want to work solo or be a star,” Wiles told Axios in an interview this week. “My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission.”
Wiles, who was Trump’s 2024 co-campaign manager and will be the first female White House Chief of Staff, has become one of Trump’s most trusted advisors. Under her leadership, his campaign had fewer leaks than in the past and sailed to victory in 2024 — but she shies away from taking credit, even refusing to speak on Election Night when prompted by Trump.
“Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you!” Trump said as he spoke in the wee hours of the morning on Election Night. “The Ice Maiden. We call her the Ice Maiden.”
Wiles told Axios that the most critical period of the Trump administration will be between the inauguration and the 2026 midterms, while Republicans have full control of Congress. Trump’s plan includes “getting off to a quick start and staying on that pace, together with an expectation of excellence every day,” she said.
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Trump’s first administration “had an enviable level of accomplishment” despite “impeachment attempts and other witch hunts,” Wiles added, telling Axios, “I have every hope that the 47 administration will not have the same number of attempts to put sand in the gears. We are off to a fast start with congressional work, hiring the best people, preliminary discussion with heads of state, fine-tuning his policy agenda, and planning for the first 100 days.”
Trump now has a much better understanding of how “Washington institutions work,” she elaborated, as she discussed how this administration will be different from Trump 45, “especially the need to have people who are serving be both competent and loyal.”
“He has taken a keen interest in personnel and has personally interviewed and hired all the Cabinet and many sub-Cabinet hires,” she noted.
“He engaged fully with hiring,” Wiles continued. “He interviewed the Cabinet leadership, and made it clear his priorities for White House and agency staff. We set timelines and held ourselves accountable for the deadlines we set. President Trump 47 will have the finest public servants available with great work ethic, a demonstrated ability to break down bureaucratic walls to help hold the bloated federal workforce accountable, have fealty to the conservative and common-sense principles that President Trump ran — and won — on, and be determined to make a difference during their time serving. We are cognizant of a turning clock — much to do.”
The 2025 West Wing will be a mix of new and old staff, she went on, noting that many of these staff are young.
“All are prepared to work punishing hours,” Wiles added. “To my core, I believe in teamwork. Anyone who cannot be counted on to be collaborative, and focused on our shared goals, isn’t working in the West Wing.”
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Trump instructed his team to be “smart with hiring,” she said, reminding his team to remember what he promised the American people he would do: “Set goals and then exceed them in every area, with every staff member.”
Wiles drew on her experience on the campaign trail as she explained her attitude towards the White House.
“I cannot stress teamwork and mutual support enough,” she said. “It’s not magic — set goals and timelines for me and the team and then work to exceed them. Simple, yes, but this worked quite nicely on the campaign.”