Susie Wiles, incoming White House chief of staff, urged Cabinet nominees not to post on social media until the Senate confirmation hearings next week, the New York Post reported. The head of President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is attempting to control the messaging for the new administration.
In a memo Sunday, Wiles warned nominees to keep mum. "While this instruction has been delivered previously, I am reiterating that no member of the incoming administration or Transition speaks for the United States or the President-elect himself," Wiles wrote.
"Accordingly, all intended nominees should refrain from any public social media posts without prior approval of the incoming White House counsel," she added. The memo made news on social media this week with mostly positive responses.
🚨 NEW: All of Trump's nominees must stop posting on social media ahead of the Senate confirmation hearings, incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles ordered - NYP pic.twitter.com/Rrmx42dy0x
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 30, 2024
Wiles wrote that she was grateful for "how enthusiastic everyone is" about the new administration. Dubbed the "Ice Maiden," Wiles is the first woman ever to hold the position in the administration, and it seems she's intent on running things differently than in the past.
It's a smart bet, considering the political climate and the Senate's balance. All of Trump's nominees will have to pass muster in the Senate if they hope to be confirmed, and some have already faced resistance.
The Republican majority in the Senate is so slim that a united Democratic front plus any defection within the GOP will thwart a given nominee. Some in the media have speculated that the memo was triggered by the dustup caused by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will chair the Department of Government Efficiency.
The pair have stirred up trouble on social media with their response to H-1B visas, which are given to foreign workers and have become a bone of contention within the GOP. The Trump transition team insists this has nothing to do with the memo from Wiles.
"It was a reminder of the guidance to intended nominees as confirmation hearings get underway next week," a source from the transition team told The Post. However, it seems Trump and his team are learning from past mistakes.
Trump's first term as president was tumultuous regarding staff turnover and leaks from the administration. This term could be shaping up the same way but for Wiles' intervention.
When Trump tapped former GOP Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to become the new attorney general, the move made headlines over Gaetz's allegations of sexual misconduct. Gaetz ultimately stepped down from Congress and the nomination, but not after weeks of bad publicity.
Other Republicans nominated are facing a barrage of attacks as well, including former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who was picked as Trump's Defense Secretary. Hegseth has taken to social media to defend himself from these attacks, including allegations that his tattoos represented white supremacy.
Meanwhile, the nominees continue meeting with lawmakers to hash out their plans for their respective cabinet positions. Refraining from posting to social media will keep those waters from being muddied with social media posts.
Wiles did a phenomenal job keeping Trump focused and on-task as his campaign manager during the 2024 presidential election. It's a positive sign that her leadership is also evident as the administration takes shape.
