Susie Wiles, a key strategist and White House Chief of Staff in former President Donald Trump’s second term, played a critical role in managing internal tensions within the administration. She actively recruited Ohio Senator JD Vance to temper Trump’s aggressive tariff policies. Wiles explained, “We told Donald Trump, ‘Hey, let’s not talk about tariffs today. Let’s wait until we have the team in complete unity and then we’ll do it.’” However, Trump proceeded with sweeping reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10 to 100 percent, triggering turmoil in financial markets.
The president’s tariff announcements caused significant bond market panic and a sell-off in stocks, forcing Trump to pause these policies for 90 days. Despite this pause, the disruption led critics to mock the administration with the slogan “Trump Always Chickens Out.” Wiles expressed her belief that finding a middle ground on tariffs could succeed but acknowledged it had been a more painful process than she anticipated. A Harvard poll conducted around the December holidays indicated that 56 percent of voters believed Trump’s tariff strategies harmed the economy.
National Guard Deployment and Crime Emergency
During the summer preceding the midterm elections, Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington, DC, mobilizing 800 National Guard troops to support federal and local law enforcement. This was part of a broader deployment strategy that sent about 4,000 troops to four Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles. Wiles described the deployment as “a vitamin boost of ICE, of the [National] Guard, of the Park Service police,” aimed at stabilizing crime rates and gradually reducing the military presence.
Despite these efforts, the deployments faced harsh criticism, with opponents labeling them unconstitutional and performative. Some feared the military presence might be used to suppress voting during upcoming elections. Wiles categorically denied these claims, stating, “It is categorically false, will not happen, it’s just wrongheaded.” When asked whether Trump would respect Supreme Court rulings, she expressed confidence, saying, “I do,” though she predicted legal challenges would slow progress before the administration ultimately prevailed.
Senator Marco Rubio praised Wiles for her effectiveness, noting her “earned trust” with Trump and asserting, “I don’t think there’s anybody in the world right now that could do the job that she’s doing.” This endorsement reflects Wiles’ significant influence over Trump’s second-term agenda.
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