Former Trump aide Susie Wiles joins GOP consulting firm
Susie Wiles, a longtime Republican political consultant who helped get Donald Trump elected president in Florida, is now working for a firm that is advising the former president’s company.
Wiles joined the political consulting and lobbying firm Ballard Partners last week, said the firm’s founder and president, Brian Ballard. The firm has offices in Florida and Washington, D.C., and was once headed by Molly Culver, another longtime Trump associate.
Wiles was in line to become White House chief of staff when Trump was elected in 2016 until Trump decided instead to make Reince Priebus his chief of staff and Steve Bannon his chief strategist. Wiles worked on Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign in Florida and was a top staffer in Florida for Trump in 2016.
“We are incredibly excited to have Susie join our team,” Ballard said in a statement. “She is widely respected throughout Florida and will be an invaluable addition as our firm continues to grow.”
Wiles is part of Ballard Partners’ executive team and will be based in Jacksonville, home to the company’s largest office.
Wiles’ hiring comes as Trump is taking steps to formally establish a post-presidency office in Palm Beach, Florida. He has named former White House aide Nick Luna as his chief of staff, while Republican National Committee official Samantha Zager will serve as director of the office.
Wiles and Ballard have a long relationship. Wiles helped run the Florida finance operation for Trump’s 2016 campaign, which Ballard co-chaired.
Ballard was one of Trump’s top fundraisers in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns and was appointed by Trump to be vice chairman of the president’s inaugural committee.