SW
Susie Wiles
RepublicanWhite House Chief of Staff| Age | 69 (b. 1957-05-14) |
| Gender | Female |
| In office since | 2025-01-20 (~1 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Episcopalian (Protestant Christian) |
| Education | BA in English, University of Maryland, College Park (1978); attended Academy of the Holy Angels, Demarest, NJ (high school, 1975) |
| Prior occupation | Political consultant and lobbyist; congressional aide to Rep. Jack Kemp (1978); Reagan 1980 campaign scheduler; White House scheduler under Reagan; secretary to Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan; campaign manager for Rick Scott (2010 FL governor), Jon Huntsman (2011-12 presidential), Ron DeSantis (2018 FL governor); co-campaign manager Trump 2024; lobbyist at Ballard Partners (2017–2022), Mercury Public Affairs (2022–2024), Right Coast Strategies LLC / Public Advisory Strategies (2024) |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Lake City, Florida |
| Marital status | Divorced — Lanny Wiles (divorced 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Washington, D.C. (previously Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida) |
| Notable relatives | Father: Pat Summerall (NFL kicker for NY Giants; legendary TV sportscaster); Daughter: Caroline Wiles (Republican political operative, resigned Trump WH scheduling director role in 2017 after failing FBI background check); Daughter: Katie Wiles (lobbyist at Continental Strategy) |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| Previous offices | Chief of Staff to Mayor of Jacksonville, FL (1997–2000) · Communications Director under Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton (2003–2008) |
| Leadership | 32nd White House Chief of Staff (January 20, 2025–present); first woman to hold position · Co-Campaign Manager, Trump 2024 presidential campaign · Florida Campaign Manager, Trump 2016 presidential campaign |
| Ideology | Mainstream conservative Republican operative; career spans moderate Republicans (Jack Kemp, Tillie Fowler) to Trump populism; known more for operational discipline than ideological positioning; no DW-NOMINATE score (non-elected) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $3,700,000–$11,000,000 (2025) · estimate
| Right Coast Strategies LLC (DBA Public Advisory Strategies) | business_owned · $1,000,000–$5,000,000 · 2025 |
| Bank Account No. 1 | other · $500,000–$1,000,000 · 2025 |
| Bank Account No. 2 | other · $250,000–$500,000 · 2025 |
| Right Coast Strategies Non-Prototype Retirement Account | fund · $500,000–$1,000,000 · 2025 |
| City of Jacksonville Deferred Compensation | fund · $100,000–$250,000 · 2025 |
| Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF | fund · $15,001–$250,000 · 2025 |
| Eaton Vance Strategic Income Fund | fund · $15,001–$250,000 · 2025 |
| Procter & Gamble stock | stock · $15,001–$50,000 · 2025 |
| BlackRock funds (multiple, Rollover IRA) | fund · $15,001–$100,000 · 2025 |
| Fidelity Government Cash Reserves (Keogh) | fund · $50,001–$100,000 · 2025 |
| Right Coast Strategies Keogh Profit Sharing (various funds) | fund · $15,001–$50,000 · 2025 |
| Residential mortgage (Mr. Cooper, 4.99%, 30-year) | real_estate · $250,001–$500,000 · 2025 |
Top industries: Lobbying / Public Affairs · Tobacco · Mining/Natural Resources · Waste Management · Media/Broadcasting
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Federal Tax Liens — IRS (Multiple, 1991–2019)
The IRS filed at least seven federal tax liens against Susie Wiles and her then-husband Lanny Wiles between 1991 and 2019, covering over $100,000 in taxes, penalties, and interest. Key liens arose during her high-profile campaign management years. She stated all liens were satisfied; no criminal prosecution followed.
resolved — Personal Bankruptcy Filing (Chapter 7)
In 1991, Susie Wiles and her then-husband Lanny Wiles filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, listing total debts of approximately $3,025,215. The bankruptcy arose from a failed hotel development venture connected to Lanny Wiles. Susie Wiles was named as a joint debtor. Major creditors included the city of Wilkesboro, North Carolina ($725,000), a construction company ($710,970), and a North Carolina real estate developer ($353,476). The bankruptcy was discharged per Chapter 7 proceedings.
pending — Associated Press v. Budowich — First Amendment Civil Lawsuit (Defendant)
The Associated Press sued Wiles (Chief of Staff), Budowich (Deputy Chief of Staff), and Leavitt (Press Secretary) in February 2025 after the White House barred AP reporters from press events because the AP refused to use 'Gulf of America' in place of 'Gulf of Mexico.' The AP alleged First and Fifth Amendment violations. A district court issued a preliminary injunction in April 2025 but stayed it pending appeal. The case remains unresolved with no personal judgment against Wiles.
resolved — Subpoenaed as Witness in Federal Foreign Lobbying Criminal Trial (U.S. v. Rivera / Globovision/FARA)
In February 2026, defense attorneys for former Florida Congressman David Rivera subpoenaed Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to testify about her work as a registered lobbyist at Ballard Partners in 2017–2018 on behalf of Globovision Tele Ca, Corp., a Venezuelan television network owned by Raul Gorrin (a Venezuelan media magnate and sanctioned individual). Rivera was charged with conspiracy to violate FARA and money laundering for secretly lobbying on behalf of the Venezuelan government. Defense sought Wiles' testimony to show Ballard Partners was attempting to influence Trump on behalf of Gorrin regarding Venezuela regime-change policy. DOJ moved to quash the subpoena, and Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres granted the motion in February 2026, finding that compelling the Chief of Staff's testimony would disrupt her governmental duties. Wiles was a witness subpoena target, not a defendant. Rivera was convicted on all counts in May 2026.