White House chief of staff Susie Wiles gave candid interviews to Vanity Fair reflecting on President Donald Trump and his Cabinet during the first year of his second term, with excerpts published Tuesday. Across 11 interviews conducted in real time, Wiles offered blunt assessments of administration figures, describing Trump as having an “alcoholic’s personality” despite his claims of abstaining from alcohol. She said he operates “with a view that there’s nothing he can’t do,” emphasizing his confidence and self-assuredness. Trump later told the New York Post that Wiles’ assessment was accurate, noting his own “possessive and addictive type personality,” and praised Wiles as “fantastic.”
Wiles was critical of several administration figures, calling Vice President JD Vance a “conspiracy theorist for a decade” and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought “a right-wing absolute zealot.” She described Elon Musk as an “odd duck” and an “avowed ketamine user.” Wiles also commented on Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Trump’s tariff rollout, his Venezuela strategy, and Musk’s reduction of federal programs. In response, Wiles defended her remarks on X, calling the Vanity Fair piece “disingenuously framed” and asserting that the Trump administration has achieved more in 11 months than other presidents in eight years.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Wiles, citing her leadership in implementing Trump’s agenda. Bondi praised Wiles’ loyalty and effectiveness, while Vance, who has not read the article, acknowledged Wiles’ “conspiracy theorist” remark as partly tongue-in-cheek. Wiles highlighted instances such as Bondi’s handling of Epstein documents, Trump’s presence on Epstein’s flight manifests, and her attempts to influence the administration’s approach to tariffs, pardons, and Venezuela. She described moments where she was “outvoted,” including Trump’s early pardons of January 6 convicts, but noted that she ultimately supported his decisions while advocating for measured approaches.
Wiles’ interviews provide a detailed, unfiltered look at internal White House dynamics, revealing her perspective on Trump’s decision-making, policy priorities, and the personalities of key Cabinet members. The remarks underscore both her influence as chief of staff and the administration’s sometimes contentious internal debates.
