In brief
In a recent Vanity Fair article, Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff, spoke critically about Donald Trump and his administration, describing Trump's personality in stark terms and labeling Vice President JD Vance a 'conspiracy theorist.' However, Wiles has since disputed the article's portrayal, asserting that important context was missing. President Trump defended Wiles, calling her 'fantastic,' while Wiles also expressed concerns over tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's actions during his time with the administration. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions within the administration and the complexities of internal dynamics.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has disputed portions of a Vanity Fair article in which she paints an unflattering picture of the Trump administration and many of its top officials.
In the interview, Wiles described Donald Trump as having an alcoholic's personality and Vice President JD Vance as having been a conspiracy theorist for a decade.
But in a post on X, Wiles said that Vanity Fair disregarded significant context to create an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the administration.
Wiles, 68, played a key part in Trump's successful 2024 presidential campaign before becoming the first woman to be White House Chief of Staff.
In a New York Post interview, Trump defended Wiles, describing her as fantastic and suggested she had been deceived by the writer.
The president also said he thought Wiles' comments about his personality mirrored remarks he previously made.
Over the course of nearly a dozen interviews with Vanity Fair, Wiles talked about a wide range of issues, including handling of Epstein files, Trump's legal actions against political rivals, and also about personalities around the president.
She admitted that there may be an element of retribution in Trump's efforts to pursue criminal cases against political adversaries or perceived foes. Wiles noted, I don't think he wakes up thinking about retribution. But when there's an opportunity, he will go for it.
Wiles is widely considered among the most powerful members of the Trump White House in his second term.
Prior to becoming chief of staff, Wiles had a long history working with Trump, including as his campaign manager in Florida in 2016 and as the head of his fundraising apparatus, Save America.
In the interview, she credits her upbringing with an alcoholic father as what enabled her to work with the president.
Wiles expressed that she is knowledgeable about high-functioning alcoholics or alcoholics in general, their personalities are exaggerated when they drink.
While President Trump does not drink, she said he possesses an alcoholic's personality and governs with the mindset that there's nothing he can't do. Nothing, zero, nothing.
Among the other figures commented upon was JD Vance, a one-time critic of Trump who has become a close ally.
Wiles suggested that Vance's shift in perceptions was sort of political, echoing sentiments Vance has made regarding conspiracy theories.
Wiles also expressed concern over tech billionaire Elon Musk's actions, calling him an avowed Ketamine user and describing his approach as odd yet unique.
Following the publication of the Vanity Fair article, Wiles characterized it as a disingenuously framed hit piece—a sentiment echoed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who defended Wiles, claiming she has been integral to Trump's administration success.
Musk has yet to comment on the Vanity Fair piece.
