U.S. President Donald Trump with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 16, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
President Donald Trump has been calling his allies to ask whether it's time to replace his chief of staff and Stephen Miller could be that replacement.
Campaign manager Susie Wiles became Trump's chief, but the first two years have made it clear she can't curb his worst instincts.
The report comes after the Daily Mail said this week that Trump hired his new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, without consulting Wiles. It led to questions about whether Wiles still has influence in the administration.
On Thursday, Politico's "Playbook" revealed that Trump is asking whether it's time to cut Wiles loose. They characterized the kitchen cabinet of allies as more of a "phone a friend" board of advisors and as the Nov. 3 election approaches those calls have grown with frequency.
"These days, he’s asking about Susie Wiles, the once-unassailable White House chief of staff," the report said. "Trump has been soliciting allies’ views of Wiles and musing about replacements for his top aide, according to four people with direct knowledge of the conversations."
The problem is that Wiles has been somewhat of a gatekeeper to some of those that play into some of Trump's worst instincts. So, there are plenty in Trump world who feel like they've been "burned" by Wiles.
“She’s burned a lot of people,” explained one GOP operative close to the White House when speaking with Politico.
“TOTAL FAKE NEWS Politico doesn’t care about facts, integrity, or honest journalism — it’s why I kicked them out of the White House!” Trump said in a statement to Politico. “Susie Wiles is my loyal and longest serving Chief of Staff — there is a reason for that. She has been with me since the beginning, is my trusted advisor, and has my COMPLETE confidence. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The news comes just days after a report said that Wiles had a "crisis meeting" in the West Wing about the mounting corruption issues and shakedows spreading through the Trump administration.
The report said the short list of replacements includes Stephen Miller, Steve Witkoff and Bill Pulte.
"Plausible Trump responds to a midterms drubbing by installing Stephen Miller as chief of staff," said senior MMFA fellow, Matthew Gertz.
Long-shot replacements include Randy Levine, and, of all people, Kevin McCarthy, who was shoved out quickly by the far-right MAGA wing in the GOP caucus.
One person, who claimed to have worked alongside Wiles in Florida "for years," said that they and others have been trying to warn folks that Wiles is "evil."
"Susie Wiles only cares about survival. She doesn't believe in anything or anybody past their usefulness to her," another complained.