Chief of staff dubbed ice maiden by Trump will keep 'clowns' out of Oval Office

Informal advisers that dogged first presidency to be got rid of

- MIKE BEDIGAN

Susie Wiles, the newly appointed chief of staff to the second Trump White House, reportedly made a series of demands before she would accept the high-profile role in the presidentelect’s upcoming administration.

Ms Wiles, 66, described by Donald Trump himself as the “ice maiden” and considered to be one of the most significant influences on his third campaign, was appointed to the top job on Thursday.

The chief of staff is, historically, the first appointee named by the president-elect and is charged with overseeing all policy and day-to-day White House affairs. But, according to a source close to both Ms Wiles and Mr Trump, the former campaign manager had sought assurances from the president-elect prior to taking the role.

The source said that Ms Wiles wanted confirmation that she would have more authority than her predecessors in controlling access to the Oval Office, before accepting the job. Mr Trump’s first term was marked by a slew of “informal advisers”, including family, friends and other external voices, exacerbating his tendency to listen to the last person he spoke with.