Eric Trump praised Florida for helping his father win the presidency again in a recent interview with The Citizen. He also highlighted the role of Susie Wiles, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident, in the big victory.
Eric, who lives in Palm Beach, believes Florida will stay a strong Republican state for years to come.
“Florida is great. It’s our home state,” he said. “We won by a big margin. Winning Miami-Dade County was a huge deal for a Republican, and it proves that Florida is solidly red.”
Donald Trump was the first Republican candidate to win Miami-Dade since George H.W. Bush in 1988. The unexpected shift was historic, as the county had supported Democratic presidential candidates for over 30 years.
More than 65% of Miami-Dade’s residents are Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census.
Eric Trump and Susie Wiles’ Role in the Campaign
Eric Trump is the executive vice president of the Trump Organization, but he did not have an official position in his father’s campaign. However, he was an outspoken supporter, attending rallies and giving interviews.
He also worked closely with top campaign officials, including Wiles, who will become the new White House chief of staff.
“Susie Wiles is amazing,” Eric said. “I’m very close to her. I strongly supported her for the role. She did an incredible job and truly deserved it.”
Wiles played a major role in the campaign’s success. Donald Trump even mentioned her in his early morning victory speech at Mar-a-Lago, calling her to the stage. She chose not to speak, but Trump assured the crowd that her work was crucial.
Wiles has deep political experience. She is the daughter of legendary NFL player and announcer Pat Summerall and has been involved in Florida politics for years. She worked for Jacksonville mayors John Peyton and John Delaney and led Ron DeSantis’ successful 2018 campaign for governor.
Securing Florida’s electoral votes and flipping Miami-Dade were key campaign goals. Eric Trump credited Wiles for achieving both and helping his father return to the White House.
Key Florida Leaders in Trump’s Administration
President-elect Donald Trump has picked several Florida politicians for top positions in his administration. Senator Marco Rubio will be secretary of state, former Congressman Matt Gaetz will be attorney general, and Congressman Mike Waltz will be the national security adviser.