An explosive magazine profile has thrown the inner workings of Donald Trump's White House into sharp relief, casting a spotlight on his powerful Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. A lengthy feature in Vanity Fair, based on eleven interviews, quotes Wiles making startlingly candid remarks about the President and key figures in his orbit, prompting intense speculation about her motivations and her future in the administration.
A Bombshell Profile and a Swift Backlash
In the 9,500-word article, published in late 2025, Susie Wiles described President Trump as having "an alcoholic's personality" and a penchant for vengeance. She did not hold back on others, labelling Vice President JD Vance a "conspiracy theorist" and calling tech billionaire Elon Musk an "odd, odd duck." The profile, which covered her first year back in office with Trump, sent shockwaves through Washington.
Wiles swiftly claimed she had been selectively quoted for a "hit piece," a defence echoed by Trump and Vance. However, political observers were left questioning whether the revelations were a calculated move by one of Washington's most seasoned operatives. Rick Wilson, a political strategist and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, stated bluntly: "There is 0.000 chance that this incredibly sophisticated and experienced political operative did 11 interviews on tape and did not know exactly what she was doing."
The Enigmatic Power Behind the Throne
At 68, Wiles has built a formidable career largely away from the public eye. The daughter of sportscaster Pat Summerall, she cut her teeth in Republican politics working for Jack Kemp and Ronald Reagan. After moving to Florida, she became a kingmaker in the state's brutal political arena, credited with helping Rick Scott win the governorship and, crucially, delivering Florida for Trump in the 2016 election.
Her relationship with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis soured mysteriously after she helped elect him, a rift she told Vanity Fair she still does not understand. She later helped lead Trump's 2024 primary campaign against DeSantis, famously posting "Bye, bye" on social media as his campaign faltered. Appointed Chief of Staff after Trump's 2024 victory, she became the first woman to hold the role, tasked with bringing discipline to a famously chaotic West Wing.
Chris Whipple, author of The Gatekeepers, who wrote the profile, noted her unique influence: "She certainly has a kind of magic with Donald Trump and there's a bond that none of her predecessors enjoyed with the result that she's run a much tighter ship."
A Legacy in the Balance
The central question raised by the article is whether Wiles has been a moderating force or a complicit enabler. She insisted to Vanity Fair, "I'm not an enabler. I'm also not a bitch. I try to be thoughtful about what I even engage in." Yet critics argue her effectiveness has come at a profound cost.
Michael Steele, former chair of the Republican National Committee, argued: "The fallout from that management has been laying waste to the federal government, laying waste to our relationships abroad, and now laying waste to the ideal that the American purpose was to uphold the rule of law."
Many see her candid remarks as a bid to shape her historical legacy before a potential departure. Rick Wilson interpreted her actions as "trying to have a plea bargain with history," an attempt to signal she was not fully aligned with the administration's most extreme elements. Whether this strategy will backfire or secure her a favourable judgement remains to be seen, but the episode has undoubtedly made her position in Trump's tumultuous White House more precarious.
