Key Takeaways
- Susie married Lanny Wiles in 1985; they moved to Florida and built political careers.
- Lanny Wiles started his career on Reagan’s 1980 campaign.
- Susie and Lanny are blessed; they have two daughters, Katie and Caroline.
Susie Wiles, an American political consultant and co-chair of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, married her husband, Lanny Wiles, in the year 1985.
Shortly thereafter, the couple moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where they began their married life and careers. Each became an influential figure in local and national politics.
Breaking news: US president-elect Donald Trump has chosen Susie Wiles, his 2024 campaign manager, as his White House chief of staff, in the first major appointment to his new administration https://t.co/sZdU2EZyU5 pic.twitter.com/H689lYDHwu
— Financial Times (@FT) November 7, 2024
Lanny Wiles, also a seasoned American political consultant, has built a career spanning several decades.
He pursued a degree in political science before beginning his career as an advanced man, focusing on logistics and publicity for various Republican candidates.
His political journey began during Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign, during which he managed event logistics to ensure smooth operations.
Known for his strategic work within the Republican Party, Lanny supported Reagan’s public events by overseeing setup, managing crowd arrangements, coordinating media access, and ensuring effective event planning.
Throughout Reagan’s presidency, he continued in this role, handling advanced operations for key presidential events.
In October 1983, while working as an advance man for President Reagan, Lanny was held hostage by an armed individual at the pro shop at Augusta National Golf Club.
The situation ended without harm, leaving a memorable mark on his career.
In 2011, he briefly joined Jon Huntsman’s presidential campaign team but resigned later that year to return to his lobbying and government affairs practice.
Over the years, Lanny has contributed his political strategy and operations expertise, often collaborating with his former wife, Susie.
In July 2017, Lanny made headlines for arranging a prominent seat for Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Russian attorney involved in the Trump Tower meeting with Donald Trump Jr., at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on U.S.-Russia policy.
Although ABC News reported on his proximity to Veselnitskaya, Lanny firmly stated he had “zero connection” to her affiliations with the Trump campaign.
This incident highlighted Lanny and Susie Wiles’s ongoing influence within Republican circles.
Beyond campaign work, Lanny has remained active in lobbying. In 2019, he registered as a foreign agent to represent a Kazakh fugitive accused of embezzling millions, working with lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin, who has ties to Russia.
These activities illustrate his extensive experience and connections within international and domestic political affairs.
Meet The Children Of Susie And Lanny Wiles: Katie And Caroline
Susie and Lanny’s marriage lasted 32 years before they divorced in 2017. Despite their separation, both have continued their respective careers in politics.
No public information indicates that Susie or Lanny has remarried since their divorce, and public records indicate that neither Susie nor Lanny has remarried.
During their marriage, the couple had two daughters, Katie and Caroline.
Caroline Wiles followed into politics in her parents’ footsteps, working within the Trump administration.
After Trump’s inauguration in 2017, she was hired as a deputy assistant to the president and director of scheduling.
Despite her “unusual background” for a senior White House role—she had only an incomplete degree from Flagler College—she became the fourth-highest-paid staffer on the 2024 Trump campaign, earning $222,000.
However, Caroline left the White House in February 2017 after failing an FBI background check and has since faced scrutiny for past legal issues related to driving while intoxicated.
Unlike her sister, Katie Wiles has kept a low public profile, and few details about her personal or professional life are widely available.
It seems that Katie has also pursued a career in political consulting and public relations, following her mother’s example, though she has generally stayed out of the public spotlight.
As of now, both daughters remain active in their careers.
Susie Wiles currently resides in Florida, maintaining close relationships with her children.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Susie Wiles was born Susan Summerall on May 14, 1957, in New Jersey, to parents Pat Summerall and Cheri Summerall.
She began her political career in 1979 as an assistant for Representative Jack Kemp.
- She is known by the nicknames “Ice Maiden” and “Ice Baby” in political circles.
