Susie Wiles, President-elect Donald Trump's incoming chief of staff, has promised to nix the drama in the new administration, Axios reported. In an interview with Marc Caputo, Wiles told the publication she "will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama."
Later this month, the 67-year-old will become the first woman to take the White House role. As the co-manger of his campaign, Wiles is widely credited for running a better, more streamlined campaign than Trump's previous two presidential bids.
Now, she will be in charge of staffing for his new administration and bring the same disciplined approach. "I don't welcome people who want to work solo or be a star," Wiles told the publication.
"My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission," she added.
If the campaign is any indication, Wiles will run a tight ship when she takes the role. Her approach to Trump has always been about deference, discretion, and preventing the leaks that plagued his last administration.
Trump has praised her for this approach and rewarded her with the role in his new administration. "Susie likes to stay sort of in the back, let me tell you!" Trump said while thanking Wiles and Chris LaCivita, the co-campaign manager, in his victory speech on Election Night.
"The Ice Maiden. We call her the Ice Maiden," Trump added. Wiles' approach for the new administration will also correct mistakes of the past.
"I have every hope that the 47 administration will not have the same number of attempts to put sand in the gears. We are off to a fast start with congressional work, hiring the best people, preliminary discussion with heads of state, fine-tuning his policy agenda, and planning for the first 100 days," Wiles noted.
"I cannot stress teamwork and mutual support enough. ... It's not magic — set goals and timelines for me and the team and then work to exceed them. Simple, yes, but this worked quite nicely on the campaign," Wiles said of her philosophy.
Trump is coming into office older and wiser this time, and Wiles said he's taking a more measured approach to his staffing. "He engaged fully with hiring," Wiles told Caputo.
"He interviewed the Cabinet leadership, and made it clear his priorities for White House and agency staff. We set timelines and held ourselves accountable for the deadlines we set," Wiles later added.
"President Trump 47 will have the finest public servants available with great work ethic, a demonstrated ability to break down bureaucratic walls to help hold the bloated federal workforce accountable, have fealty to the conservative and common-sense principles that President Trump ran — and won — on, and be determined to make a difference during their time serving. We are cognizant of a turning clock — much to do," she added.
Wiles said the West Wing will be a mix of veterans and newcomers but that the key will be the ability to work together. "To my core, I believe in teamwork. Anyone who cannot be counted on to be collaborative, and focused on our shared goals, isn't working in the West Wing," Wiles noted.
America has been waiting for this change for four long years. The new Trump administration will be a force to be reckoned with, especially with Wiles in charge of staffing.
