President-elect Donald Trump has made his first significant appointment after securing a decisive win in the 2024 election. On Thursday, Trump appointed Susie Wiles as his White House Chief of Staff, making her the first woman to hold the role in his administration.
Wiles, who served as Trump’s campaign manager, has earned respect within the Republican Party and has been an influential figure in Trump’s political circle.
With his victory over Democrat Kamala Harris, Trump has reignited both US and international discussions, with the world watching his next steps. A major focus has been Trump’s willingness to reestablish ties with Russia, an approach starkly different from the Biden administration’s stance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin commended Trump’s resilience, calling him “courageous” after Trump survived an assassination attempt earlier this year. Although Trump revealed he hasn’t spoken to Putin since winning, he suggested that a conversation is likely soon, saying, “I think we’ll speak.”
Trump’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict also marks a significant divergence from previous policies. While he has expressed intentions to pursue a peace agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced concerns, calling calls for a ceasefire “dangerous.”
The change in leadership has drawn attention from global figures, with Chinese President Xi Jinping among those congratulating Trump, despite past criticism from Harris regarding Trump’s favorable view of authoritarian leaders.
On the domestic front, Trump reinforced his stance on immigration, announcing plans for large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants, stating he had “no choice” in this decision.
As Trump works with his transition team from his Florida resort, outgoing President Joe Biden has promised a “peaceful and orderly” transfer of power, calling for Americans to “bring down the temperature.” Biden’s administration, however, is still awaiting final documentation from Trump’s team to initiate the official transition.
Meanwhile, attention is turning to Trump’s plans for his second term, which he calls “Trump 2.0.” Wiles, described as “tough, smart, [and] innovative” by Trump, will be central to this administration’s direction.
Other notable names are reportedly under consideration, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who may take on a role in health policy, and billionaire Elon Musk, who could be tapped to audit government spending.
Trump has promised to dismantle several of Biden’s key environmental policies and has emphasized his commitment to boosting domestic oil production, saying he is ready to “drill, baby, drill.”
