Change of power in the USA: Trump makes historic personnel decision

US President-elect Donald Trump is speeding up the formation of his government team. Less than two days after his election victory, the Republican appointed his previous campaign manager Susan Wiles as chief of staff in the White House. Wiles is the first woman to hold this important position.

Trump is expected to announce further personnel decisions in the coming days. Meanwhile, there is a noticeable calm in the US capital Washington: US President Joe Biden is spending the weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach in his home state of Delaware.

As chief of staff, Wiles will take on a central role in Trump’s administration; it then organizes the president’s day-to-day government. “Politico” wrote a profile of Wiles in the spring with the title: “The most feared and least known political actor in America.” It says that the 67-year-old is not just a high-ranking advisor to Trump – she is his “most important advisor.”

Wiles has been politically active for decades and has worked for various Republican politicians. She comes from the US state of New Jersey, her father is the well-known US sports presenter Pat Summerall.

Wiles later moved south to Florida. She already supported Trump’s election campaign from there in 2016. The political strategist is considered extremely loyal and discreet. Trump called her “tough, smart and innovative and admired and respected by everyone.” When Trump gave his victory speech in West Palm Beach, he also specifically thanked Wiles. However, Wiles, who tended to remain in the background, declined to give a speech. She is considered a discreet puppeteer who is not looking for the big stage.

She helped former Trump ally Ron DeSantis on his way to becoming governor of Florida. However, there is said to have been a break between the two later.

Wiles has two daughters and lives separately. According to US media reports, one of her daughters briefly worked for Trump in the White House in 2017. But she then had to leave her post again because she failed the security check. Wiles will take office when power is handed over to Trump on January 20th.

Pressure on Judge Sotomayor

Meanwhile, in political Washington, the question is what US President Biden can still achieve in his remaining weeks in office. The eyes are on the Supreme Court. Trump shifted the country’s highest court far to the right during his term in office – only three of the nine justices are considered liberal.

Trump had the opportunity to fill three judgeships during his term because of two deaths and one departure. The judges are appointed for life. Biden filled a judgeship – but did not shift the majority because a liberal judge retired.

The question now arises as to whether Biden could fill another judgeship in the remaining weeks. The liberal judge Sonia Sotomayor (70) is coming under pressure because of her age. Even with their withdrawal, Biden would not be able to shift the majority – but he could ensure that a younger person takes over her position.

The Democrats are still reeling from the death of iconic judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She refused to retire and ultimately died in 2020 just months before Trump left the White House. Trump and his Republicans filled the judgeship with the ultra-conservative Amy Coney Barrett.

Politico reported, citing a senator, that the issue had come up repeatedly in Sotomayor’s conversations with his colleagues. The Senate must confirm the judges – the Democrats currently have the majority there, and from January the Republicans will have the majority.

Theoretically, it would be possible that Biden could fill a new judge position if Sotomayor were to retire. However, no one can force them to do this. And even if she were to give up her post, a quick replacement wouldn’t actually be that easy – it would probably require a lot of strategic skill from Democratic majority leader Chuck Schumer.

Biden and Harris remain background

Biden has not yet commented on how he wants to use the coming weeks politically. Since Trump’s victory on Wednesday night, the US President has made a public appearance. The Democrat gave a speech in the Rose Garden on Thursday and promised a peaceful transfer of power. There was a dejected mood at the event, to which Biden’s cabinet was invited. As he often does, the 81-year-old spends the weekend outside the capital in Delaware. He has not yet announced any public appointments.

US Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the presidential election, also has no public appearances planned on Friday. Since her defeat, she has only appeared in public once.

After the election, the majority in the House of Representatives remains unclear. This will determine whether Trump can govern unhindered. The Republicans have a secure majority in the second chamber of parliament, the Senate. The results of the presidential election must also be counted and certified in the states down to the last vote. The official result must be known by December 11th. On December 17th, the electors in the states will meet to vote. The newly elected Congress meets for the first time on January 3rd.

On January 6th, the House of Representatives and Senate will meet together to formally confirm the election results. This meeting is chaired by the incumbent Vice President, Harris. After the 2020 election, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on this occasion. On January 20th, Trump will be sworn in in a formal ceremony at the Capitol. The new government then begins its work immediately.