Politics is a blood sport, but in Florida, it's basically a gladiator pit. If you want to understand why the 2024 Republican primary felt so personal, you have to look at the spectacular bridge-burning session between Susie Wiles and Ron DeSantis. Most people see Wiles now as the stoic, "Ice Baby" Chief of Staff in the Trump White House. But before she was Trump’s right hand, she was the woman who arguably saved Ron DeSantis from political irrelevancy.
It's a wild story of loyalty, suspected leaks, and a very cold dish of revenge.
The Rescue Mission of 2018
Back in late 2018, Ron DeSantis was in trouble. He had the Trump endorsement, sure, but his campaign against Andrew Gillum was sputtering. Enter Susie Wiles. She’s a legendary operative in Florida—daughter of the late broadcaster Pat Summerall—and she has this reputation for being the "adult in the room." She stepped in, stabilized the ship, and helped DeSantis squeak out a victory by less than 40,000 votes.
For a minute there, they were the ultimate team. She led his transition. She helped him pick his initial staff. She was the architect of the early "DeSantis brand" that made him look like a competent, Trump-aligned but disciplined governor.
Then, things got weird.
The Great Falling Out
By September 2019, the relationship didn't just fray; it detonated. DeSantis essentially forced Wiles out of the Florida GOP and even pushed the Trump campaign to fire her from her role as a consultant.
Why? The official-ish reason was a leak.
There was a memo that got out showing how the governor’s office was allegedly selling access to DeSantis through "golfing dates" with lobbyists. DeSantis and his inner circle, including First Lady Casey DeSantis and chief of staff Shane Strum, reportedly suspected Wiles was behind the leak. She denied it. Aggressively. But the damage was done. DeSantis didn't just want her gone; he wanted her banished from Republican politics entirely.
Honestly, it was a massive miscalculation on his part. You don't take a brilliant tactician who knows all your secrets and kick them into the arms of your biggest rival. But that’s exactly what happened.
The Long Road to Retribution
Wiles didn't stay down. She went back to Donald Trump. While DeSantis was building his "Free State of Florida" brand and eyeing the presidency, Wiles was quietly running Trump’s operations.
When DeSantis finally launched his 2024 presidential bid, he didn't just face Donald Trump. He faced Susie Wiles. And she had the receipts.
- The "Boot" Jokes: Remember the memes about DeSantis wearing lifts in his boots?
- The Personality Hits: The stories about him being awkward or eating pudding with his fingers?
- The Strategy: Trump's campaign was famously disciplined this time around, a hallmark of the Wiles style.
She didn't have to say much publicly. She just had to be better at her job than his team was at theirs. When DeSantis eventually dropped out after Iowa, Wiles posted a simple, two-word tweet: "Bye, bye."
It was the ultimate mic drop.
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Where They Stand Today (2026)
Fast forward to now. It’s early 2026, and Wiles is sitting in the White House as the first female Chief of Staff in U.S. history. Interestingly, the ice has thawed a little. Or at least, they’re being professional about it.
In recent interviews, Wiles has called DeSantis a "good governor." She says the drama is in her "rearview mirror." It’s a very Susie Wiles move—calm, diplomatic, and completely dominant. She won the war, so she can afford to be gracious.
DeSantis, for his part, has had to play ball with the Trump administration to keep Florida’s interests front and center. The "blood match," as Trump once joked, has settled into a wary peace.
What We Can Learn From the Wiles-DeSantis Saga
If you’re looking for a takeaway from this political soap opera, it’s basically this: In politics, people are the only currency that matters. 1. Don't burn bridges you can't afford to lose. DeSantis treated Wiles like a disposable staffer, forgetting she was the one who built the bridge he walked on.
2. Competence is a shield. Wiles survived because she was too good at winning for Trump to ignore, even when DeSantis tried to blacklist her.
3. The "Long Game" is real. It took four years for Wiles to go from "fired and disgraced" in Florida to the most powerful staffer in Washington.
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If you’re following Florida politics or just curious about how the 2026 midterms might shake out, keep an eye on how these two interact during federal-state funding talks. The "Ice Baby" doesn't forget, but she definitely knows how to govern.
For those wanting to dive deeper into the mechanics of Florida's power players, check out the latest filings from the Florida Division of Elections to see where the old Wiles associates are landing now. It’ll tell you everything you need to know about who’s really in charge in the Sunshine State.