White House Unites Behind Susie Wiles After Candid Talks

White House Officials Defend Susie Wiles Amid Controversial Vanity Fair Articles

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has found herself at the center of a media storm following the publication of two articles in Vanity Fair. The pieces, based on 11 on-the-record interviews with Wiles, have drawn strong support from her allies within the administration, despite some of the remarks attributed to her being perceived as critical.

Wiles and her supporters argue that the articles misrepresent her statements and paint an unfair picture of the White House team. Cabinet secretaries and other senior officials have publicly defended her, with President Donald Trump himself expressing confidence in her performance.

“I didn’t read it, but I don’t read Vanity Fair — but she’s done a fantastic job,” Trump told the New York Post on Tuesday. He later reiterated his support for Wiles, stating that she would remain his chief of staff.

The articles caught Wiles and her team off guard. Two sources close to her revealed that she believed the conversations with writer Chris Whipple were intended for a book and did not expect them to be published so extensively. Additionally, many White House staff members were unaware of the interviews, according to the sources and the Vanity Fair article.

Misunderstandings and Expectations

The Vanity Fair article noted that Wiles and other top advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, participated in a photo shoot and interviews. Sources said they expected the photos to be taken by Annie Leibovitz, the renowned photographer known for capturing political figures for the magazine. However, the images published were shot by Christopher Anderson, and the article was accompanied by extensive text.

Vanity Fair editor Mark Guiducci was also present during the nine-hour visit to the White House.

Support from Allies

Despite the controversy, Wiles received widespread backing from key figures in the administration. Donald Trump Jr. and nearly all Cabinet members, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and budget director Russell Vought, expressed their support. Wiles was particularly vocal about her criticisms of Bondi, who she claimed “whiffed” the release of the Epstein files, and Vought, whom she described as a “right-wing absolute zealot.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Wiles in a statement, calling her “the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history.” She emphasized that the entire administration supports Wiles and her leadership.

A History of Media Tensions

Trump has a history of clashing with advisers who he feels are seeking too much attention. In his first term, he fired Stephen K. Bannon after he appeared on the cover of Time magazine. More recently, Trump was frustrated with advisers, including Wiles, who cooperated with an article in the Atlantic during the campaign.

According to one source close to Wiles, she spoke with Trump about the Vanity Fair article on Tuesday morning and found him unbothered, as he understands the challenges of being misrepresented in the media.

Wiles’ Perspective on Trump

Wiles offered an unvarnished account of her relationship with Trump, describing it as complex. She recounted an intense outburst from Trump over Florida poll numbers during the 2016 campaign, which nearly ended their professional relationship. Despite the conflict, she stood by her decision to focus on winning the state, and Trump eventually came around.

Wiles described Trump as having “an alcoholic’s personality,” noting his belief that “there’s nothing he can’t do.” She also shared her views on Trump’s handling of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, where she urged him not to pardon the rioters but ultimately supported his decision.

Handling of Epstein Files

Wiles was candid about the administration’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. She criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying she “completely whiffed” in managing the documents. Wiles claimed Bondi provided binders full of irrelevant information and falsely claimed a witness list existed.

She also disputed Trump’s claim that Bill Clinton visited Epstein’s island multiple times, stating there is no evidence to support the assertion. Wiles confirmed that Trump was on Epstein’s plane but denied any wrongdoing.

Musk and Vance: Diverging Views

Wiles described Elon Musk as “a complete solo actor” and referred to him as “an odd, odd duck.” She noted his use of ketamine and his unconventional behavior, though she had no direct knowledge of his social media posts.

Regarding Vice President JD Vance, Wiles called him a “conspiracy theorist for a decade” but acknowledged his political shift toward supporting Trump. She contrasted this with Marco Rubio, whom she said had to align with Trump due to his principles.

Outlook for Midterms

While Vance predicted a modest loss in the 2026 midterms, Wiles remained optimistic, claiming the administration would win the elections.

Jacob Bogage, Scott Nover, and Amy B Wang contributed to this report.