President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday tapped campaign manager Susan “Susie” Summerall Wiles to become his White House chief of staff, the first woman to hold the powerful post, as his transition team began helping him select the key players to serve in his second administration.
Mr. Trump said Ms. Wiles, 67, helped him achieve “one of the greatest political victories in American history.”
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history.”
When Mr. Trump walked on stage to deliver his election victory speech early Wednesday, he praised his campaign team, particularly Ms. Wiles, whom he called “the ice baby.” She was head of his Florida operation in the 2016 campaign and is the daughter of legendary sportscaster and NFL player Pat Summerall.
Her selection was Mr. Trump’s first personnel announcement for his administration, which begins in 74 days. Some of the other names under consideration for top posts are familiar.
Mr. Trump has talked about billionaire Elon Musk, who campaigned for him, leading an effort to reduce government inefficiencies.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democrat turned independent who gave Mr. Trump a critical endorsement, is under consideration for a public health policy role. He could oversee the Food and Drug Administration, which Mr. Kennedy has criticized as ineffective.
Mr. Trump has said that Mr. Kennedy’s role is to “make America healthy again.” He wants to raise awareness about the potential dangers of some vaccines, pharmaceuticals, fluoridated water and certain food ingredients.
Other names under consideration for top posts are more obscure, but they could soon hold some of the country’s most important jobs.
Billionaire John Paulson, who backed Mr. Trump’s candidacy, is under consideration for Treasury secretary, although a spokesman told The New York Times he did not plan to take a formal role in the Trump administration.
Mr. Trump’s under-the-radar economic adviser, billionaire Scott Bessent, also could be tapped to head the Treasury.
Mr. Trump isn’t making the decisions alone. His official transition operation is headed by Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who ran the Small Business Administration in Mr. Trump’s first term, and Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat turned Republican who endorsed Mr. Trump, are also leading the transition team.
Ms. McMahon and Mr. Lutnick have been working on assembling a second Trump administration since August.
They said Thursday that Mr. Trump, in the days and weeks ahead, “will be selecting personnel to serve our nation under his leadership and enact policies that make the life of Americans affordable, safe and secure.”
The two said they are presenting Mr. Trump with “a wide array of experts from which he can select for his team.”
In addition to picking his Cabinet and people to run the top agencies, Mr. Trump must quickly fill thousands of other administration positions.
His top transition advisers include sons Don Jr. and Eric, who say they are looking for people who will implement Mr. Trump’s “America First” agenda, which centers on border security, lowering taxes, boosting energy production and cutting government regulation.
“I want to make sure, now that we know who the real players are that will actually deliver on the president’s message, and the people who don’t think they know better than the duly elected president of the United States, I want to make sure those people are in his administration,” Donald Trump Jr. told Fox News.
Some of Mr. Trump’s former Republican political opponents may be in line for coveted positions.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination last year and endorsed Mr. Trump, expects to play a high-level role in the administration. Some say he could lead the Energy Department or Agriculture Department.
Mr. Burgum told reporters that when Mr. Trump passed him over for vice president in favor of Mr. Vance, the former president greeted him on the phone with the line, “Hey, Mr. Secretary.”
Sen. Marco Rubio has been floated for a top position, perhaps secretary of state. The Florida Republican ran against Mr. Trump in the 2016 Republican primary but dropped out and returned to the Senate, where he became one of Mr. Trump’s staunchest allies.
Mr. Rubio has held top positions on the intelligence and Foreign Relations committees and, like Mr. Burgum, was on the short list to become Mr. Trump’s running mate.
Ric Grenell, Mr. Trump’s ambassador to Germany in the first term who later served as acting director of national intelligence, also could run the State Department.
The short list for the job likely includes former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who also may be considered for the defense secretary position.
Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas took his name out of the running for defense. Instead, he is running for the No. 3 Senate Republican leadership position.
Mr. Trump is likely to tap into top members of his campaign team to help run the White House.
Campaign representatives Karoline Leavitt and Jason Miller will likely head the Trump administration’s press team.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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