As the daughter of legendary NFL play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall, Wiles has politics and public service ingrained in her DNA ¹. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, and began her career in 1980 as a campaign scheduler for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign.
Early Career Highlights:
• Chief of Staff: Wiles served as chief of staff to John Delaney, mayor of Jacksonville, in the 1990s.
• U.S. Representative: She worked for Tillie Fowler, a U.S. Representative.
• Campaign Manager: Wiles managed campaigns for Rick Scott, Trump, and Ron DeSantis.
Trump’s Silent Operator:
Wiles’ influence on Trump’s campaigns is immense. She ran Trump’s Florida operations in 2016 and helped DeSantis’ gubernatorial campaign in 2018. Her “survive-and-thrive” drive aligns with Trump’s, but whereas Trump disrupts order, Wiles maintains it.
Many Republicans credit Trump’s political comeback, at least in part, to her bringing in a new sense of discipline and direction to his campaign.
She’s seen as a leading reason Trump is elected again after his loss in 2020, the insurrection of 2021, the criminal indictments of 2023 and the trial (or trials) of 2024.
Trump has burned through so many campaign managers and chiefs of staff — no fewer than 10. However Wiles has been his chief manager for three years.
Recent Achievements:
• CEO of Save America PAC: Wiles was chosen in March 2021.
• Chief of Staff: By 2022, she became Trump’s campaign chief of staff and most important adviser.
• Credit for Trump’s Comeback: Many Republicans attribute Trump’s re-election to Wiles’ discipline and direction.
Other Ventures:
• Jacksonville TV: Wiles was a regular panelist on a local talk show in 2009.
• Duval County Co-Chair: She co-chaired John McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008.
On November 6th, 2024, Trump acknowledged Wiles’ hard work during his re-election speech, but she declined to speak, instead letting another campaign member take the stage ¹. With her impressive track record and influence, Susie Wiles remains a key figure in American politics.
