USA Trump makes historic personnel decision

US President-elect Donald Trump is setting the pace in putting together his government team. Less than two days after his election victory, the Republican appointed his former campaign manager Susan Wiles as Chief of Staff in the White House. Wiles is the first woman to hold this important post.

Trump is expected to announce further personnel decisions in the coming days. Meanwhile, there is a conspicuous silence 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.

Who is Susan Wiles?

As chief of staff, Wiles will assume a central position in Trump's administration; she will then organize the president's day-to-day government life. "Politico" wrote a portrait of Wiles in the spring entitled: "The most feared and least known political player in America". It states that the 67-year-old is not only 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 and her father is the well-known US sports presenter Pat Summerall.

Wiles later moved south to Florida. She supported Trump's election campaign from there back in 2016. The political strategist is considered to be extremely loyal and discreet. Trump called her "tough, smart and innovative and admired and respected by all". When Trump gave his victory speech in West Palm Beach, he also expressly thanked Wiles. However, Wiles, who tends to operate from the background, declined to give a speech. She is regarded as a discreet string-puller who does not seek 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 rift between the two later on.

Wiles has two daughters and lives separately. According to US media reports, one of her daughters worked briefly for Trump in the White House in 2017. However, she then had to leave her post because she had not passed her security clearance. Wiles will take up her post with the handover of power to Trump on January 20.

Pressure on Judge Sotomayor

Meanwhile, the question in political Washington is what US President Biden can still achieve in his remaining weeks in office. All eyes are on the Supreme Court. Trump had shifted the country's highest court far to the right during his time in office - only three of the nine judges are still considered liberal.

During his term of office, Trump had the opportunity to fill three new judgeships due to two deaths and one retirement. The judges are appointed for life. Biden reappointed one judge - but did not shift the majorities because a liberal judge retired.

The question now arises as to whether Biden could fill another judgeship in the remaining weeks. Liberal judge Sonia Sotomayor (70) is coming under pressure because of her age. Although Biden could not shift the majorities by withdrawing, he could ensure that a younger person takes over her post.

The Democrats are still reeling from the death of the iconic judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She refused to retire and finally died in 2020 just a few months before Trump left the White House. Trump and his Republicans appointed a new judge - the arch-conservative Amy Coney Barrett.

"Politico" reported, citing a senator, that the topic of Sotomayor had repeatedly come up in discussions with his colleagues. The Senate must confirm the judges - the Democrats currently still have the majority there, with the Republicans taking over in January.

Theoretically, it would therefore be possible for Biden to fill another judgeship should Sotomayor retire. However, no one can force her to do so. And even if she were to give up her post: A swift replacement would indeed not be very easy - it would probably require a great deal of strategic skill on the part of Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Biden and Harris remain in the background

Biden has not yet commented on how he intends to use the coming weeks politically. The US President has made one public appearance since Trump's victory in the US on Wednesday night. The Democrat gave a speech in the Rose Garden on Thursday and promised a peaceful transfer of power. The mood at the event, to which Biden's cabinet was invited, was downbeat. As so often, the 81-year-old is spending the weekend away from 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, has also not planned any public appearances on Friday. She has also only made one public appearance so far following her defeat.

The timetable

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

On January 6, the House of Representatives and Senate will then meet together to formally confirm the election result. This session will be chaired by the incumbent Vice President, i.e. Harris. After the 2020 election, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to mark the occasion. On January 20, Trump is then sworn in in a formal ceremony at the Capitol. The new government will then immediately take office.

SDA