Trump Dismisses 'Alcoholic's Personality' Jab as Allies Attack Vanity Fair Article

Trump Dismisses Wiles’ “Alcoholic’s Personality” Remark, Allies Defend Her

President Donald Trump has publicly dismissed White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ comments in a Vanity Fair article that described him as having "an alcoholic’s personality." The remarks, which were part of a two-part story about Wiles and the second Trump administration, have sparked significant reactions from both Trump and his allies.

The article, which was published on Tuesday, included several quotes from Wiles that painted an unflattering picture of Trump and others within his inner circle. However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the comments were "wildly" taken out of context.

In response to the article, Trump told the New York Post that he wasn’t offended by Wiles' description of his personality.

"No, she meant that I’m — you see, I don’t drink alcohol. So everybody knows that — but I’ve often said that if I did, I’d have a very good chance of being an alcoholic. I have said that many times about myself, I do. It’s a very possessive personality," Trump told the Post.

"I’ve said that many times about myself. I’m fortunate I’m not a drinker. If I did, I could very well, because I’ve said that — what’s the word? Not possessive — possessive and addictive type personality," Trump said. "Oh, I’ve said it many times, many times before."

The White House referred Fox News Digital to the Post’s reporting when asked for comment.

The Vanity Fair story also included other unflattering remarks from Wiles about members of Trump’s team. She described Vice President JD Vance as a "conspiracy theorist for a decade" and claimed that Attorney General Pam Bondi "completely whiffed" how she handled the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Wiles also criticized Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, calling him "a right-wing absolute zealot," and described Elon Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), as an "odd duck" and an "avowed ketamine user."

Despite these criticisms, Wiles also praised Trump’s Cabinet, calling them "a world-class Cabinet, better than anything I could have conceived of."

In response to the story, Wiles called it a "disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history." She claimed that significant context was disregarded and that much of what she and others said about the team and the President was left out of the story.

"Significant context was disregarded and much of what I, and others, said about the team and the President was left out of the story," Wiles said in a post on X. "I assume, after reading it, that this was done to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team."

Other members of the Trump administration quickly came to Wiles’ defense, including some who were mentioned in an unfavorable light. Vance dismissed Wiles’ comments, stating that he and Wiles had privately joked about the vice president being a conspiracy theorist.

"Sometimes I am a conspiracy theorist, but I only believe in the conspiracy theories that are true," Vance said.

Bondi also praised Wiles, asserting that "any attempt to divide this administration will fail." Vought, who previously served as director of the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term, called Wiles an "exceptional" chief of staff and said that this is the most seamless era he's experienced in his two terms working for Trump.

Hegseth called the article a "playbook from the left to 'trash & smear our best & most effective people.'" He praised Wiles, calling her "the most TRUSTED, most PROFESSIONAL & most EFFECTIVE Chief of Staff of my lifetime."

Waltz, who previously served as National Security Advisor, described Wiles as "the Queen of Florida politics" and praised her for her "calm under fire, forthright, & results focused" approach.

Bessent, Treasury Secretary, called Wiles "the single most effective operator whom I have ever met." He praised her dedication, loyalty, and commitment to the President, saying that "powerful leadership often works quietly – never seeking credit and always relentlessly driving results."

Bessent also challenged Vanity Fair’s portrayal of the Trump administration, claiming that the faulty characterization is "precisely why the insular chattering classes in America lose their minds as we notch victory after victory for the American people."

Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Conde Nast, which owns Vanity Fair, also did not respond to a request for comment.