Susie Wiles won't tolerate West Wing 'drama' from incoming Trump staff

Incoming White House Chief of Staff for President-elect Donald Trump's second term, Susie Wiles, told reporters that she will not stand for drama in the West Wing from people who want to "work solo" or "be a star" starting when Trump returns to the presidency in January.  

"My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission," Wiles said of the incoming Trump administration. During the first Trump term, people have said that there were people looking to leak what was going on in the White House.

Leaks during Trump's 2024 campaign were kept relatively small in comparison to other staff teams, Axios reported. Wiles, 67, will be the fifth person to serve as Trump's Chief of Staff and is the first woman to hold the role in the White House. Wiles worked for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the primary against Trump but has become part of Trump's team since.

Wiles told the outlet that she has been hands-off with Trump but was deeply involved managing the campaign. When she does have a disagreement with Trump, however, she intends to meet with him privately so that nothing gets leaked. She also avoids taking that spotlight and prefers staying behind the scenes.

"Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you!" Trump previously said of Wiles in his election victory speech. "The Ice Maiden. We call her the Ice Maiden." When Trump invited her to speak at the time, she shook her head "no."

Wiles told reporters that she wants to get off to a good start with the first 100 days and is focused on "engendering public support" to deliver on Trump's promises. She said that they are planning on "rolling back redundant and burdensome regulations, keeping taxes low, cutting government waste through DOGE [the new Department of Government Efficiency], and most importantly, sealing the border and deporting criminals who are in this country illegally."