DeSantis personally made it clear he wanted Wiles out, according to two senior Republicans familiar with discussions between DeSantis and the Trump campaign. | Getty Images Trump campaign cuts ties with top adviser in Florida

TALLAHASSEE — President Donald Trump‘s campaign has severed ties with Florida adviser Susie Wiles, leaving the president without a top adviser in a major battleground state going into the 2020 election.

The move was made at the urging of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been attempting to install his own allies in the state party. A senior Republican Party official on Tuesday confirmed Wiles’ departure, which followed weeks of behind-the-scenes drama that has prompted turnover at the highest levels of the state GOP apparatus.


DeSantis personally made it clear he wanted Wiles out, according to two senior Republicans familiar with discussions between DeSantis and the Trump campaign.

News of the Wiles ouster had not filtered down to Republican Party of Florida chairman Joe Gruters as of early Tuesday.

Early in the day, the state senator called Wiles a “superstar” and said he expected her to be an “integral part of the team.” Despite news that she was leaving her lobbying job, Gruters said he expected her to reprise her role as co-chair for the Florida campaign.

“Obviously I am not in the know” Gruters said later Tuesday. “She played a critical role in 2016, obviously she’s going to be missed.”

Wiles’ departure is widely seen as a setback to the president’s re-election campaign, which could live or die on the outcome in Florida.

Florida Politics today reported that Wiles had left her lobbying firm, Ballard Partners, due to health reasons.

Wiles, a longtime Florida political hand who played a key role in Trump's 2016 campaign, has been at the center of a power struggle that pitted her against key members of DeSantis' inner circle — chief of staff Shane Strum and his wife, Casey DeSantis.

After meeting with Republican Party of Florida officials in April, Strum and Casey DeSantis concluded that the state party was stocked with Wiles allies. They moved to bring in people who would focus on the governor’s accomplishments, not solely on the president’s re-election.

In April, Casey DeSantis and Strum asked Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale to replace state party Executive Director Jennifer Locetta.

Last month, former acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter O’Rourke replaced Locetta, a Wiles ally.

Wiles attributed her departure from the campaign, and from her Florida-based lobbying shop, to health issues.

“Due to a nagging health issue, it’s time for me to focus on taking care of myself, so out of fairness to the firm and its clients, I have decided to separate from Ballard Partners,” Wiles said in a statement to Florida Politics. “Though I strongly support the president’s re-election, I will also not be active with the Trump campaign in an official position.”

Gary Fineout contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this report misstated which position Brad Parscale was asked to replace. Shane Strum and Casey DeSantis asked Parscale for a new state party executive director.