Former White House chief of staff Susie Wiles urges rejection of Florida land exchange

Former White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has urged state officials to reject a proposed land exchange involving 600 acres in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area in St. Johns County. Wiles, a Ponte Vedra Beach native and former Jacksonville mayor chief of staff, described the area as "a treasure in northeast Florida" and characterized the proposal as a "land grab" in a statement to The Tributary.

The conservation effort echoes Wiles' work in the late 1990s when she helped spearhead the Preservation Project under former Mayor John Delaney. While state environmental staff stated in a 2025 report that the exchange would provide a net conservation benefit, Wiles argued that the Guana Preserve's beauty and serenity are woven into the fabric of local communities, drawing support from residents and conservation advocates.

Wiles, 69, served as the longest-serving chief of staff before leaving the White House in November to be replaced by Stephen Miller following the midterm elections. She continues to work for Trump’s political organization and previously ran the former president's Florida campaigns in 2016 and 2020, having also worked in Ronald Reagan’s campaign and White House.

Read the full story at News4JAX.