White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has dismissed a recent Vanity Fair profile as a biased portrayal of President Donald Trump’s second term, emphasizing the article’s selective omissions and lack of context.
WASHINGTON, DC – Susie Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff, strongly criticized a Vanity Fair profile published on December 16 that examined the internal dynamics and crises during President Donald Trump’s second term. Wiles labeled the piece a “disingenuously framed hit piece,” arguing that it ignored essential context and selectively omitted comments to depict the administration as chaotic.
The article, authored by Chris Whipple and titled “Susie Wiles, JD Vance, and the ‘Junkyard Dogs’: The White House Chief of Staff on Trump’s Second Term,” is a two-part profile that draws from months of interviews with Wiles.
In the profile, Wiles candidly discussed her experience working for Trump, describing the president as having “an alcoholic’s personality,” despite his reputation as a teetotaler. She acknowledged that many of Trump’s actions during his second term were motivated by a desire for revenge.
The Vanity Fair piece positions Wiles at the center of significant decisions that have purportedly expanded presidential power, including the deployment of National Guard troops, immigration enforcement, and various foreign policy actions. It raises questions about whether Wiles serves to restrain Trump or fully supports his approach. “The question around Wiles’s tenure under Trump has been whether she will do anything to restrain him,” the article posits.
The profile features on-the-record comments from senior officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended Wiles’s relationship with Trump, describing it as “an earned trust,” while JD Vance characterized her role as a facilitator of the president’s agenda. CNN noted that Wiles has maintained Trump’s confidence partly by managing a functional West Wing that does not attempt to curb the president’s impulses.
The article recounts various episodes, including debates over tariffs and immigration enforcement, as well as the restructuring of the U.S. Agency for International Development and its implications for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Wiles is quoted as acknowledging disagreements with some actions while emphasizing the importance of execution. “I will concede that we’ve got to look harder at our process for deportation,” she remarked at one point.
On the topic of tariffs, Wiles described significant internal divisions, stating, “There was a huge disagreement over whether [tariffs were] a good idea.” She explained that advisers were instructed to align with Trump’s direction, saying, “This is where we’re going to end up. So, figure out how you can work into what he’s already thinking.”
The profile also delves into Wiles’s management style and her closeness to power. “There’s the president, and then there’s whoever the three high-ranking people are on the sofa,” she explained regarding Oval Office events. “And then there’s a chair at the corner of the sofa, which is my chair.”
Wiles’s response to the Vanity Fair article underscores her commitment to her role and the complexities of navigating the Trump administration’s internal landscape, as she continues to play a pivotal role in shaping policy and strategy.
According to Vanity Fair, Wiles’s insights provide a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a presidency marked by controversy and power struggles.