Susie Wiles: Inside Trump’s Chief of Staff Role and Political Influence
A Vanity Fair profile based on 11 interviews during Donald Trump's first year back in office offers an in-depth look at Susie Wiles, Trump's White House chief of staff. Wiles described Trump's personality as "an alcoholic’s personality" with vindictive impulses. Despite this, Trump credited Wiles with persuading him to return to the campaign trail ahead of the 2026 congressional midterms.
Wiles, a long-established Republican operative, co-chaired Trump’s 2024 campaign and was involved in several previous key campaigns, including the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential efforts as well as Florida campaigns like Ron DeSantis’ 2018 governorship. Though DeSantis had publicly and privately rebuked Wiles and their relationship cooled, he had previously benefited from her work.
Wiles has denied being an enabler and rejects claims of selective quoting, asserting she is thoughtful rather than a MAGA ideologue, and believes time will judge her effectiveness. Critics, however, argue that her remarks may reveal a conscience or an attempt to protect her legacy. Rick Wilson suggested her statements were deliberate, while Michael Steele raised concerns about the broader impacts of her management.
Observers note that Wiles has run a tighter West Wing under Trump, contributing to smoother operations. Yet questions remain about whether she has consistently provided hard truths to the president in her role.
