Donald Trump is in an extraordinarily unique position: He has been reelected to the White House as a convicted felon who is awaiting sentencing in his hush money case in New York and still working to stave off prosecution in other state and federal cases.
Trump has said multiple times he plans to fire special counsel Jack Smith and end the federal cases against him for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and mishandling classified documents.
As of Wednesday, Smith is in active talks with Justice Department leadership about how to end the federal cases against Trump, a DOJ official familiar with the discussions told CNN.
Later this month, a judge in New York is set to sentence Trump after holding off on handing down the punishment ahead of Election Day to avoid any appearance of affecting the outcome of the presidential race. Whether that sentencing happens at all remains an open question.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Read the full rundown of what to expect.
Susie Wiles announced as Trump’s White House chief of staff
From CNN’s Steve Contorno and Aditi Sangal
Trump brings Susie Wiles to the podium at an election night watch party Wednesday, November 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump brings Susie Wiles to the podium at an election night watch party Wednesday, November 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Alex Brandon/AP
President-elect Donald Trump announced his campaign manager Susie Wiles will serve as his White House chief of staff when he assumes office. She will be the first woman to hold the role.
“Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns,” Trump said Thursday. “Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again.”
Vice President-elect JD Vance said it was “great news” that Wiles has been selected for the role, writing on X that she will be a “huge asset” in the White House.
A source told CNN that Wiles had expressed certain conditions to Trump before she accepted the role of chief of staff — the top item being more control over who can reach the president in the Oval Office.
“The clown car can’t come into the White House at will,” the source said. “And he agrees with her.”
Some context: During Trump’s first term, his chiefs of staff struggled to prevent a roving cast of informal advisers, family members, friends and others from getting inside the White House to meet with him. Trump is often influenced on an issue by whomever he speaks to last, a fact that is well known within his circle and one that made life difficult for his top aides.
What to know about Wiles: The daughter of the late NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall and a seasoned political operative from Florida, Wiles is one of the longest-serving advisers in Trump’s orbit. After helping him win Florida in 2020, she served as his de facto chief of staff during his post-presidency and then led his campaign for the entirety of the race — a rare feat in Trump world. Wiles was widely credited for running what was seen as Trump’s most sophisticated and disciplined campaign, which included keeping many of the fringe voices in his orbit at bay.
Trump credited Wiles during his victory speech, though she declined to address the crowd. Her willingness to stay in the background has endeared her to Trump and to his allies, several of whom have already endorsed her publicly for the job.
