Trump Defends Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Amid Vanity Fair Controversy

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Responds to Vanity Fair Profile

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has issued a strong response to a recent profile published by Vanity Fair, which included candid remarks from her about President Donald Trump, his second-term agenda, and several of his close allies. In a statement shared on X, Wiles claimed that the article "disregarded significant context" and painted an unfairly negative picture of the administration.

“The article published early this morning is a disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history,” Wiles wrote, without providing specific details. She argued that much of what she and others said about the team and the President was omitted from the story. “I assume, after reading it, that this was done to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team.”

In an interview with the New York Post, Trump defended Wiles, calling her performance “fantastic.” He also claimed that the article was based on “misguided” reporting. Notably, Wiles did not deny making the comments attributed to her in the profile.

Christopher Whipple, the writer of the Vanity Fair profile, noted that Wiles fully cooperated with the story. “Most senior White House officials parse their words and speak only on background,” Whipple explained. “But over many on-the-record conversations, Wiles answered almost every question I put to her.”

Wiles’s remarks have sparked significant discussion in Washington due to her role as the president’s gatekeeper — someone who controls access to the leader of the free world and acts as his closest confidante. Trump often refers to Wiles, the daughter of famed sportscaster Pat Summerall, as the “most powerful woman in the world.”

Remarks on Trump

Wiles described Trump as having “an alcoholic’s personality,” noting that he “operates [with] a view that there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing.” This comment comes amid ongoing discussions about Trump’s personal life, including the struggles of his older brother, Fred Trump Jr., with alcoholism.

Trump himself has long avoided alcohol, attributing his teetotaling to witnessing his brother’s struggles. “Let’s say I started drinking, it’s very possible I wouldn’t be talking to you right now,” Trump told the Washington Post in 2019. “There is something about the genetic effect.”

Speaking to the New York Post, Trump reiterated that he doesn’t drink and insisted that Wiles was right about his “possessive and addictive type personality.” “I’ve said that many times about myself,” he added.

Comparing Vance and Rubio

Wiles compared Vice President JD Vance with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom publicly criticized Trump before joining his administration. While Rubio evolved from a rival to a colleague, Wiles described Vance’s shift as more political. Before entering politics, Vance called Trump “reprehensible” and “America’s Hitler.”

Wiles also suggested that interest in the Epstein files is based on a “view of what … was in these files that turns out not to be right.”

On Elon Musk

After spending over $250 million to help Trump win the 2024 election, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in its early months. However, tensions arose between Musk and the White House over Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

Wiles described Musk as a “complete solo actor” and noted his unconventional habits, including using ketamine and sleeping in a sleeping bag in the Executive Office Building. She also criticized Musk’s attempt to dismantle USAID, calling it a “viper’s nest of radical-left marxists.”

On Pam Bondi

Wiles criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for mishandling the release of the Epstein files, calling it a failure to engage the targeted group of conservative influencers. “First, she gave them binders full of nothingness,” Wiles said.

On Russell Vought

Wiles described Project 2025 architect Russell Vought as “a right-wing absolute zealot.” Vought, now head of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, has pushed for a major restructuring of the federal bureaucracy.

Vought responded by calling Wiles an “exceptional” chief of staff and an “ally.”

On Venezuela

Wiles confirmed that the Trump administration’s actions against Venezuela are aimed at removing Nicolás Maduro from power. “Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle,” she said.

She also acknowledged that attacking targets on Venezuela’s mainland would require congressional approval.

On Deportations

The Trump administration has increased deportation efforts, targeting undocumented immigrants. Wiles expressed concerns about the process, noting that some U.S. citizens have been mistakenly deported.

On Tariffs

Wiles urged Trump to delay announcing his new tariffs until the team was unified. “So much thinking out loud is what I would call it,” she said. Despite her concerns, she believes the tariffs will eventually succeed.