Susie Wiles Faces Sharp Criticism with Cutting Nicknames Likely to Challenge Her Reputation

You may have heard about Susie Wiles’ “Ice Maiden” moniker which, TBH, is a pretty memorable one to have. Unfortunately for the White House staffer, though, that’s not the only nickname she’s been saddled with, and the others haven’t been nearly as formidable-sounding. First up, we have Susie Trump. If you grimaced reading that, you’re not alone. Despite previously sharing, in his 2024 victory speech, that he and his team called Wiles “The Ice Maiden,” in December 2025, the president bestowed a new moniker upon her. During a speech in Pennsylvania, Donald Trump wondered aloud, “Do you know Susie Trump? Sometimes referred to as Susie Wiles. Susie Trump. She’s the great chief of staff,” (via YouTube). 

We can’t help but sympathize with Susie Wiles, who transitioned from being called the “Ice Maiden” to “Susie Trump.” This change coincided with the release of a sensational Vanity Fair piece that brought Karoline Leavitt’s infamous rookie lip filler mishap to the spotlight. In that article, Wiles criticized several colleagues and even Donald Trump himself, likening his behavior to that of an alcoholic. In light of these events, perhaps the new nickname was a better outcome than losing her job.

Following Donald Trump’s significant victory in the 2024 election, Susie Wiles became a hot topic, largely due to her resemblance to Paula Deen. Wiles, a trusted advisor to the president, caught public attention because many noticed her likeness to the once-popular Food Network star. “The Daily Show” even dedicated a segment to this uncanny similarity, humorously using images of Deen to represent Wiles, the White House chief of staff. The segment concluded with a playful nod to her supposed past, stating she was breaking new ground as the first Food Network host to secure a White House role, ending with a cheeky “Congratulations, Paula!” Social media joined in, with one user on X, formerly Twitter, joking that Wiles exuded a “finishing school Paula Deen” aura.

After Donald Trump’s big 2024 election win, Paula Deen was on everyone’s lips, simply because it was the first time many people had seen Susie Wiles. And, as it turns out, the president’s trusted advisor bears a striking resemblance to the disgraced Food Network personality. So similar are Wiles and Deen that “The Daily Show” even ran a segment about the White House chief of staff using pictures of the celebrity chef instead. Towards the end of the segment, there was also a quip about Wiles’ supposed past career. “She is making history as the first Food Network host to land a gig in the White House,” the voiceover quipped. The segment also ended with, “Congratulations, Paula!” Social media users have also joked about Wiles and Deen’s likeness. One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, quipped, “Susie Wiles is just finishing school Paula Deen.” Well, at least she gave off finishing school vibes! 

Another X user similarly mused that the Trump staffer could even pass for a younger Deen. “Is Susie Wiles Paula Deen Benjamin Buttoning?” they asked. Again, not the worst comment in the world. Plenty of others even posited a theory that Wiles was actually Deen’s sister who had changed her name. And then, there were some who tapped into 1980s pop culture with a reference to shapeshifting sci-fi horror movie, “The Fly.” “Susie Wiles is what walks out of Seth Brundle’s telepod after Ron White & Paula Deen walk into the other telepod,” they wrote. Given Deen’s soured reputation, we’re not sure Wiles would appreciate the comparison. However, “Susie Trump” isn’t a keeper, either. We don’t know how she feels but we have a feeling that, of all Wiles’ monikers,’ she probably likes “Ice Maiden” best.