Susie Wiles, a trusted confidante of President Donald Trump and his Chief of Staff, had a clear strategy to ensure she remained the top choice for her role, keeping other ambitious candidates at bay.

Following Trump’s election victory, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Education Secretary Linda McMahon swiftly headed to Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida estate, aiming to persuade him that they were the ideal candidates for the coveted position of White House Chief of Staff, as unveiled in excerpts from journalist Jonathan Karl’s forthcoming book.

At the time, it was widely understood that securing a spot in Trump’s administration hinged on one’s closeness to him, making the competition fierce.

Rollins, Wiles, and McMahon were all eager to secure a meeting with the newly elected and former president, each hoping to gain his favor.

Nevertheless, Wiles, known as the ‘Ice Maiden’ for her composed nature and political acumen, ultimately proved to be the more seasoned strategist, according to Karl’s book, Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign that Changed America.

Just days after the election, on November 7, Trump met with Wiles and offered her the position of Chief of Staff, recognizing her experience as a seasoned political consultant in Florida.

She accepted, and later became the first woman to hold that position. 

But to secure her grip on the powerful role, she played some tricks on her future colleagues, according to Karl’s new book.

President Donald Trump speaks with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles before departing the White House in Washington, DC, on June 20, 2025, en route to his club in New Jersey. Wiles has worked for Trump since his 2016 campaign, and is one of the few long-time aides to the president

Trump’s cabinet picks including Linda McMahon (circled left) and Brooke Rollins (circled right)

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon smiles during the signing event for an executive order to shut down the Department of Education in February. McMahon was reportedly competing for the White House chief of staff job late last year

While the president-elect was meeting with Wiles, multiple Trump aides, many of whom had worked closely with her during the campaign, impeded Rollins and McMahon from rushing into meet with the Republican. 

A plan was hatched to not only intercept the two future Cabinet members from barging in on the meeting with Wiles, but to hold them up and delay them as well. 

The aides orchestrated a phone call with Vice President-elect JD Vance to impede both McMahon and Rollins as they marched through Mar-a-Lago to meet Trump. 

Unfortunately for them, it was too late by the time they made it to the president-elect, he had already offered Wiles the position. 

Trump has been very complimentary of Wiles since taking office, reportedly calling her ‘the most powerful woman in the world’ and the ‘strongest woman in the world,’ noting her control over the White House and administration affairs. 

‘Susie was the only choice for Chief of Staff, and she was the perfect choice. President Trump picked someone who has been loyal from Day 1 and there is nobody more talented and respected than Susie,’ White House spokesperson Steven Cheung told the Daily Beast. 

‘There’s a reason why President Trump calls her the ‘Most Powerful Woman in the World’—because she is.’ 

Wiles, for her part, is one of the longest lasting aides still in Trump’s inner-circle. 

Wiles and Director of National Intelligence Susie Wiles discuss at the White House on Thursday

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stands behind Trump as he speaks in the Oval Office

Showing off her close connections to the first family, Rollins posted a picture of her with Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago to celebrate the First Lady’s birthday in April

She originally joined Trump’s team for his 2016 campaign, when she served as Florida state director. 

During his 2024 campaign, Wiles co-managed Trump’s campaign with Chris LaCavita, and was named as Trump’s senior advisor. 

Her constant proximity to the president likely played a role in her landing her White House gig. 

Rollins, meanwhile, was tapped to lead the Department of Agriculture after previously serving on Trump’s Economic Advisory Council and as Domestic Policy Council director in 2016. 

She also led the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned nonprofit where many former aides fled to work in early 2021, before rejoining the administration. 

McMahon, on the other hand, despite her longstanding connections to Trump through the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which she co-founded, and serving in the Republican’s first-term Cabinet, was later granted a role atop the Education Department.