A recent FARA filing reveals Mercury Public Affairs, where Susie Wiles served as co-chair, has ties to Ukraine through the “Stand with Ukraine” initiative, fueling speculation about her influence on President Trump’s $2 billion arms deal with Kyiv.

Why it matters: The connection between Mercury Public Affairs and Ukraine, alongside Wiles’ current role as White House Chief of Staff, raises questions about potential conflicts of interest in Trump’s foreign policy, particularly the significant military funding allocated to Kyiv in 2025.

Driving the news: A December 12, 2024, FARA filing shows Mercury Public Affairs, signed by partner John Lonergan, registered to represent “Stand with Ukraine,” led by James C. Temerty, prompting debates about whether Wiles’ past role shaped the $2 billion Ukraine arms deal. Source

• James C. Temerty, a Ukrainian-Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist, heads “Stand with Ukraine,” with a history of supporting Ukrainian causes through donations to UNITED24 and the Olena Zelenska Foundation. Source
• John Lonergan, a Mercury Public Affairs partner with a strong political background from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, executed the FARA agreement on December 10, 2024, alongside Temerty.
• Susie Wiles, co-chair of Mercury’s Florida and Washington, D.C., offices from 2022 until her 2025 appointment as White House Chief of Staff, worked closely with Lonergan, leading to questions about her impact on Trump’s Ukraine policy.

Catch up quick: Susie Wiles transitioned from a key political strategist, including managing Trump’s 2016 Florida campaign, to White House Chief of Staff in 2025. Mercury Public Affairs, a lobbying firm, registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to support Ukraine, a move tied to Temerty’s philanthropy and advocacy efforts, coinciding with Trump’s recent $2 billion military aid announcement to Kyiv.

The intrigue: The timing of the FARA filing, just weeks before the arms deal’s approval, and Wiles’ proximity to both Mercury and Trump’s administration, suggest possible lobbying influence, though some argue it’s standard business for a firm with her expertise.

Between the lines: The involvement of Temerty, a prominent Ukrainian supporter, and Lonergan’s political savvy at Mercury could indicate a coordinated push to sway U.S. policy, with Wiles’ past role potentially bridging private lobbying and presidential decisions on the Ukraine arms deal.

What they’re saying:

• “Bombshell: Mercury Public Affairs, where Susie Wiles was co-chair, linked to Ukraine via FARA filing for Stand with Ukraine! Did her past role shape Trump’s $2B Kyiv arms deal? #WilesInfluence or just business?” posted MagaMaverick on X.

The bottom line: The FARA filing linking Mercury Public Affairs to Ukraine, combined with Susie Wiles’ influential transition to White House Chief of Staff, casts a spotlight on the $2 billion Ukraine arms deal, leaving open the question of whether it reflects strategic influence or routine political maneuvering.