President-elect Donald Trump has made his first official appointment after his surprise election victory, naming Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, as White House chief of staff.
This marks the first woman to hold the position in Trump’s administration and underscores his intention to bring a fresh leadership style to the White House.
Wiles, a Florida native, is known for her tough, pragmatic approach and has earned widespread respect within Trump’s team.
In a statement, Trump praised Wiles for her “smart, innovative” leadership, calling her “universally admired and respected.”
Her appointment is seen as a significant move for Trump as he begins assembling his team for the next phase of his presidency.
The announcement comes just days after Trump’s landslide victory over Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, which is already sending ripples through both U.S. politics and international relations.
With two and a half months remaining before his official return to the White House, Trump’s victory is signaling a major shift from the policies of the outgoing Biden administration.
A Shift in Foreign Policy
Trump has also signaled a dramatic change in U.S. foreign policy, particularly concerning Russia. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia’s tense relations with the West, Trump expressed a willingness to engage in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian leader, who has previously praised Trump’s leadership, has called the president-elect “courageous” for his handling of an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in July.
Speaking with NBC News, Trump confirmed that although he had not yet spoken with Putin since his victory, he anticipated that the two would soon engage in discussions. This contrasts sharply with the icy silence between Putin and President Joe Biden since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump has repeatedly criticized U.S. support for Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, and has signaled his intention to seek a peace deal that would end the conflict.
In a broader foreign policy context, Chinese President Xi Jinping also congratulated Trump on his victory, continuing the pattern of diplomatic outreach from autocratic leaders.
However, Trump’s stance on Russia and Ukraine has drawn criticism, particularly from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called Trump’s calls for a ceasefire “dangerous.”
Hardline Immigration Policies
Trump also doubled down on his controversial immigration policies, telling NBC that he would push forward with mass deportations of undocumented migrants once in office.
“I have no choice,” Trump said, adding that the price of implementing these policies would not deter him. This rhetoric signals that immigration will be a central issue for Trump in his second term, as he seeks to deliver on one of his key campaign promises.
