White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has launched a fierce public defence against a magazine profile she describes as a malicious attack on the president and his team.
Wiles Fires Back on Social Media
In a statement issued on December 16, 2025, Wiles condemned a recently published Vanity Fair article as a "disingenuously framed hit piece." She took to the social media platform X to express her outrage, accusing the magazine of deliberately crafting a negative narrative.
"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 wrote. "I assume, after reading it, that this was done to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team."
Controversial Comparisons and Candid Assessments
The profile, written by author and filmmaker Chris Whipple, was based on multiple interviews conducted throughout the year. In it, Wiles made several personal and pointed observations.
She compared President Donald Trump's personality to that of high-functioning alcoholics, a remark she contextualized by referencing her father, legendary sportscaster Pat Summerall, and his struggles with alcoholism. Wiles stated that Trump governs with "a view that there's nothing he can't do. Nothing, zero, nothing."
The Chief of Staff also offered blunt assessments of other figures:
- On Vice President JD Vance, she suggested his support for Trump was "sort of political" after a decade of being a "conspiracy theorist."
- She criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for mishandling the release of Epstein-related files, saying she "completely whiffed."
- Regarding Elon Musk, the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Wiles called him an "odd, odd duck" and referenced his admitted use of ketamine.
- Wiles also stated there was no evidence to support Trump's past claims that Bill Clinton visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island, saying the president was "wrong about that."
Administration Rallies Behind Chief of Staff
Following the article's publication, a wave of support for Wiles emerged from within the administration. President Trump himself told the New York Post he was not offended by the alcoholic comparison, noting he often jokes about his own "addictive type personality." He affirmed his support, saying Wiles has done a "fantastic job."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Wiles's "steady leadership," stating the entire administration was united behind her.
Other officials echoed this sentiment online. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commended her "tireless dedication," while Donald Trump Jr. gave a strong endorsement, calling Wiles "by far the most effective and trustworthy Chief of Staff that my father has ever had." He added there was "no one on Earth more equipped" for the role.
In her social media statement, Wiles, the first female White House Chief of Staff, reiterated her loyalty, calling Trump's leadership "unmatched" and vowing to continue the pursuit of "Making America Great Again."
