Staff Reports
Incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is gearing up for the tumultuous feast that comes with managing the buffet line of interests eager to get Donald Trump’s attention. Fresh off her lobbying days, Wiles knows exactly how to navigate the minefield of Washington’s power players, but one must wonder if she’ll really be the one calling the shots or just another dish on the table.
Trump entered the scene promising to “drain the swamp,” but instead, he ended up welcoming a wave of lobbyists who collected hefty contracts like trading cards. One could argue that Wiles’ previous profession as a lobbyist makes her more suited to her new role than former chiefs of staff, who may have hoped for an actual ban on swamp things. However, skeptics are already shaking their heads, worried that this next term might look just like a replay of the last—complete with the same old trading of favors and interest groups angling for a piece of the pie.
The early chatter is that Wiles’ new appointment does not bode well for future Trump transparency. Multiple observers, including Craig Holman from an activist group, lament the fact that Trump didn’t even bother to trot out the “drain the swamp” line this time around. It appears that political realities are forcing a change in tune, with no pretense left about the back-and-forth deals that define power in D.C.
In spite of these whispers of concern, Trump’s transition team was quick to defend Wiles, asserting that her adherence to integrity and her extensive experience in the political arena would set the tone in the West Wing. As she becomes the first woman to take on this high-profile role, supporters point to her ability to control the chaos and function behind the scenes as assets in an environment typically dominated by strong personalities. After all, she has successfully wrangled an array of high-powered individuals in her career, so perhaps this is what Trump needs to keep the circus in check.
Trump’s incoming chief of staff is a former lobbyist. She’ll face a raft of special interestshttps://t.co/QGyiGcZUxR pic.twitter.com/W1I5seEGMG
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 22, 2024
Wiles arrives with a rich tapestry of experience—having previously worked with conservative legends from Ronald Reagan to Rick Scott—and is no stranger to the high-stakes game that is modern politics. While some are looking at her work with foreign entities and lobbying firms with skepticism, one can bet that she will try to manage the inevitable influx of requests from allies and wealthy friends. However, if there’s anything the past has taught us, it’s that access to Trump is already a tangled web of influence, and how well Wiles can navigate it remains to be seen.
As the dust settles from yet another political appointment, the question remains: will Wiles truly be able to manage the pent-up desires of the powerful, or will she simply add herself to the long list of those already ensnared in D.C.’s intricate dance with influence and power? Time will tell, but if the past is any indicator, it could be a wild ride.
