Incoming US president Donald Trump has named the manager of his victorious campaign as his White House chief of staff, the first woman to hold the influential role.

Susie Wiles is widely credited within and outside Trump’s inner circle for running what was, by far, his most disciplined and well-executed campaign, and was seen as the leading contender for the position.

She largely avoided the spotlight, even refusing to take the mic to speak as Trump celebrated his victory early on Wednesday (local time). At the time, he described her as “the ice maiden”.

Wiles’ hire is Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration, as he must quickly build the team that will help run the massive federal government after he takes office on January 20.

Wiles does not bring government experience to the role, but has a close relationship with Trump.

“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,” Trump said on Thursday.

“I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”

Trump went through four chiefs of staff – including one who served in an acting capacity for a year – during his first administration, part of record-setting personnel churn.

Successful chiefs of staff are the president’s confidant, help execute their agenda and balance competing political and policy priorities.

They also tend to be gatekeepers, helping determine whom the president spends his time with and whom he speaks to – an effort Trump chafed under inside the White House.

Wiles is a long-time Florida-based Republican strategist who ran Trump’s campaigns in the state in 2016 and 2020.

Before that, she ran Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign for Florida governor and was briefly manager of former Utah governor Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential campaign.

She was co-manager of Trump’s election campaign alongside Chris LaCivita.

Trump has largely been secluded at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, since defeating Democrat Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s election.

He is considering an array of people for top jobs in his administration, many of them familiar figures from his 2017-21 presidency, sources said.

Putin sends good wishes

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Trump on his election victory in his first public comment on the US vote.

Putin also praised Trump’s courage during a shooting attempt in July.

“His behaviour at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He turned out to be a brave man,” Putin said at an international forum on Thursday, following a speech in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

“He manifested himself in the very correct way, bravely as a man.”

Putin said what Trump had said “about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserves attention at least”.

The Kremlin earlier welcomed Trump’s claim that he could negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours” but emphasised it would wait for concrete policy steps.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America,” Putin said in a question-and-answer session at the conference.

As to what he expects from a second Trump administration, Putin said, “I don’t know what will happen now. I have no idea”.

“For him, this is still his last presidential term. What he will do is his matter.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday (local time) the Kremlin was not ruling out the possibility of contact between Putin and Trump before the inauguration, given Trump “said he would call Putin before the inauguration”.

Republican lead solidifies

Elsewhere, Republicans are projected to pick up another US Senate seat and appear to be retaining their hold on the House of Representatives.

That would put the party on track to control both chambers of Congress.

Several media outlets projected that Republican Dave McCormick would defeat Democratic senator Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, giving Trump’s party at least 53 seats in the 100-seat chamber in 2025.

That margin could climb as high as 55 seats if Republicans win close races in Arizona and Nevada, which remain uncalled.

In the battle for the House, Republicans were edging closer to victory on Thursday (local time).

Republicans had secured 209 seats, putting them just nine short of a majority in the 435-seat chamber.

Democrats would have to win 23 of the 31 remaining uncalled races to take a House majority and maintain a toehold on power in Washington.

A final result for Tuesday’s election might not be known for some time because 10 of the outstanding races are in California, which typically takes days to count ballots.

-with AAP