White House Chief of Staff Accuses Vanity Fair Of Trump Hit Piece

Former US President Donald Trump has been thrust into the centre of a new political controversy following a series of candid remarks made by White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles in interviews published by Vanity Fair. Her comments, which paint an unflattering portrait of Trump’s leadership style, have also drawn in key figures from his inner circle, including Elon Musk and Vice President J.D. Vance.

Wiles described Trump as a leader driven in part by a sense of revenge against political opponents and compared his mindset to that of a “high-functioning alcoholic.” Despite her criticism, Trump has previously referred to Wiles as “the most powerful woman in the world.” CNN noted that Wiles “runs the White House without attempting to curb Trump’s impulses.”

However, her influence appears limited on major decisions. According to Wiles, the president often ignores her advice on critical issues such as presidential pardons and immigration deportations.

Trump’s Mindset

Wiles said Trump governs with the belief that “there is nothing he cannot do—absolutely nothing.” She likened his behaviour to that of high-functioning alcoholics, drawing on personal experience from her upbringing, as her father was renowned sports commentator Pat Summerall.

She acknowledged that “there is an element of revenge” in Trump’s actions, though she argued it does not define him on a daily basis. Wiles also admitted that Trump had no evidence to support claims he made regarding Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein, stating bluntly that “the president was wrong on that.”

Trump’s Inner Circle

Wiles’ remarks extended to senior figures surrounding Trump. She described Vice President J.D. Vance as a “conspiracy theorist for a decade,” suggesting his alignment with Trump was politically motivated. Similar observations were made about Marco Rubio, who shifted from being a critic to a supporter of the former president.

On Elon Musk, Wiles referred to him as a “declared ketamine user” and a “mystery train,” saying she was stunned by his decision to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID). She also criticised Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying she “completely lost control” in handling the Epstein files.

Wiles further stressed the need for greater caution in deportation decisions to avoid serious errors. On Venezuela, she claimed Trump “wants to keep blowing up ships until Maduro surrenders,” while noting that any military action would require congressional approval.

She revealed that she unsuccessfully tried to prevent Trump from granting pardons to those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots and strongly opposed his intention to announce sweeping tariffs, highlighting “huge disagreements” among his advisers.

Reaction and Denials

Following publication, Wiles said her remarks had been taken “out of context.” In a post on X, she wrote: “The article is dishonest. It targets me and the best president, the White House staff and the Cabinet in history.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Wiles, stating that Trump “has no more important or loyal adviser than Susie,” adding that the entire administration is grateful for her steady leadership.

According to CNN, Trump’s advisers and allies were stunned by the blunt assessments. It remains unclear whether the controversy stems from misunderstanding, retaliation or misinterpretation of what was said off the record. What is clear, however, is that Susan Wiles remains one of the most cautious and influential figures in the White House—making her remarks particularly significant.