Donald Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles has issued a brutal takedown of Elon Musk as she refuses to grant him an office in the West Wing.
Much has been made of the billionaire’s status as ‘First Buddy,’ as he serves as chairman of the Department of Government Efficiency and even sitting in the Oval Office as Trump signs bills.
But he also causes controversy and has become an easy target for Democrats, who have jokingly referred to him as the ‘co-president’.
Wiles, a 67-year-old veteran of GOP politics, saw her first victory on Trump’s first day in office when he confirmed Musk would not have a desk in the West Wing.
Musk was reportedly pushing for his own room just yards from the Oval Office but his DOGE team will instead be based in the Eisenhower building, which is across the road from the White House.
The chief administrator of DOGE must also report to Wiles, a sign of her control over the White House.
Experts believe Wiles, who ran Trump’s 2016 and 2020 Florida campaigns successfully, has what it takes to handle the president.
‘She has an abundance of charm and she’ll need every bit of it to survive this job,’ said Chris Whipple, author of a book on the 2024 Trump campaign, noting that there were four chiefs of staff in Trump’s first term.
Donald Trump ‘s chief of staff Susie Wiles is making good on her mandate to not tolerate trouble or drama in the president’s second term, even if it means icing out Elon Musk
Much has been made of Musk’s status as ‘First Buddy,’ as the world’s richest man has served as a campaign surrogate, then chairman of the Department of Government Efficiency and even sitting in the Oval Office as Trump has signed bills
‘Temperament is actually an underrated quality among White House chiefs of staff. Susie’s got it, I think.
‘But of course it’s the toughest job in Washington, if not on the planet. Particularly when the boss is Donald Trump,’ he told The Times.
‘There’s never been an administration that has had so many power plays so early,’ added expert pollster Frank Luntz.
‘She’s got the right heart and she’s got the right skills for this — if anyone’s going to succeed, it’s her.’
Just two weeks before Trump took office, Wiles made it clear in an interview she was going to run a tight ship.
‘I don’t welcome people who want to work solo or be a star,’ Wiles told Axios. ‘My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission.’
Trump’s first term in office was marked by infighting, backstabbing and leaks. Aides set up competing fiefdoms inside the West Wing and battled among each other to have the most influence on the president, a dynamic that played out in real time like a reality TV show.
Already some of his second term officials are becoming stars in their rights, including X CEO Elon Musk.
Musk frequently takes to his social media account to provide commentary on politics – whether that be American or foreign. He recently engaged in a tiff with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer over ‘grooming gangs’ in the UK.
Experts believe that Wiles, who ran Trump’s 2016 and 2020 Florida campaigns successfully, has what it takes to handle Trump
Susie Wiles with Donald Trump in October 2024 – she was the first White House hire that Trump announced, naming her his chief of staff
Wiles is making clear the second term will be different.
Nicknamed the ‘Ice Maiden’ by Trump himself, Wiles, 67, is a longtime Florida Republican operative who takes a no-nonsense approach to her job. She will be the first woman to occupy the chief of staff’s office, the top job in the White House.
She told the news outlet that the staff are prepared to work long, hard hours in order to hit the ground running.
‘The West Wing staff is a mix of new and veterans — many are young, all are prepared to work punishing hours,’ she said. ‘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 also revealed Trump is deeply involved in the hiring process, personally interviewing many senior staff both for the White House and the various federal agencies.
Wiles is credited with running an efficient, well-organized campaign in 2024.
And she has begun laying down the law as Trump prepares for his second term in the White House.
Last week she imposed a social media ban on his Cabinet nominees, ordering them not to post without approval.
Susie Wiles talks to Donald Trump on Trump Force One in June 2023 – as his campaign manager she is credited with running a highly organized campaign
‘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 in a memo reported by the New York Post.
‘Accordingly, all intended nominees should refrain from any public social media posts without prior approval of the incoming White House counsel.’
But she is also expected to face challenges when it comes to enforcing discipline among the Trump team.
One of the top responsibilities of the chief of staff is managing the president’s time and who has access to him.
Trump chafed at such restrictions in his first term in office, when he went through four chiefs of staff in four years. Aides often slipped into the Oval Office to speak to him, knowing he was most likely to listen to the last person in the room.
Additionally, Trump also spoke frequently to outside advisers, family members and other people who got access to him – often upending processes and decision making with his last minute changes.
Still Wiles is highly respected in politics and is credited with running a disciplined, professional campaign operation that gave Trump an enormous victory in November.
Trump has publicly talked of his admiration and respect for her.
‘Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected,’ he said in a statement when he announced her as his chief of staff.
‘Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again.’