susie wiles

Trump's chief of staff is an 'enabler' who is 'distancing herself' from him: analysis

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles' bombshell Vanity Fair interview showed that she had quite a bit to say about top figures in President Donald Trump's administration. But according to a new analysis from a former Clinton advisor, she also had some telling things to say about herself, painting herself as an "enabler" also trying "distance herself" from Trump's actions.

The interviews between Wiles and Vanity Fair's Chris Whipple were conducted over the first year of Trump's second term and produced many notably candid comments. She refers to Trump as having an "alcoholic's personality" and operating with "a view that there’s nothing he can’t do." She said Vice President JD Vance has "been a conspiracy theorist for a decade" and changed his stance from Trump critic to supporter out of a political calculation, rather than a change in principles. She also described businessman and one-time Trump advisor Elon Musk as "an avowed ketamine" user and "an odd, odd duck" whose behavior left her "aghast."

Writing for The Guardian on Tuesday, Sidney Blumenthal — a former senior advisor to both former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — dug into the ways in which Wiles' relationship with her alcoholic father (the late NFL broadcaster Pat Summerall) seems to inform her approach to handling Trump. In particular, he highlighted one of her concluding comments, in which she claimed not to be an "enabler," a claim at odds with her overall handling of the Trump White House.

"So no, I’m not an enabler," Wiles told Vanity Fair's Chris Whipple. "I’m also not a b——. I try to be thoughtful about what I even engage in. I guess time will tell whether I’ve been effective."

According to Blumenthal, this excerpt showed Wiles was "concerned with distancing herself" from Trump while operating "as the chief of staff to the worst president in American history."

"Wiles herself introduces the therapeutic notion of the 'enabler,'" Blumenthal wrote. "The role is that of someone who does not intervene to curb an 'alcoholic’s personality,' unlike as she ultimately did to stop her father’s self-destructive spiral. She still thinks of herself as the alcoholic’s daughter, who has the choices of acquiescing, enabling or intervening.

"As chief of staff, she has stifled her temptation to intervene," he continued. "She knows it would be in vain and endanger her. In her interviews with Whipple, she presents herself as a manifestation of learned helplessness. But she may know instinctively that Trump, humiliated by her disclosures, might find a way slowly to humiliate her until she resigns. Or were the interviews themselves her retribution for the ineffectiveness he imposes on her?"

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Vanity Fair writer dares Trump admin to 'challenge a single fact' in bombshell interview

Vanity Fair writer Chris Whipple — who authored a bombshell profile on White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — told CNN that the White House should know better than to deny the facts of his article.

“Everything in the article was on the record, Whipple told CNN anchor Anderson Cooper. “I recorded every interview.”

Several disgruntled staffers in President Donald Trump's administration are now complaining about Whipple’s Vanity Fair piece. Wiles remarked that Trump had an "alcoholic's personality," that Vice President JD Vance was a "conspiracy theorist," and she called Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought a "zealot." She also confirmed that Trump uses the Department of Justice against his own personal enemies, and said Attorney General Pam Bondi "completely whiffed" on the matter of the Epstein files. Unnamed staffers told Politico that Wiles revelations were “extremely demoralizing.”

Whipple said it was astonishing the extent to which Wiles “was unguarded and freewheeling on the record all the time,” but he said “everything was scrupulously in context.”

“And I got to tell you, the giveaway, when you're a journalist and you hear you're the target, the subject saying talking about things like ‘context’ and ‘omissions,’ you know, you're on the right track because there isn't a single fact or a single assertion that they've challenged in the piece.”

Cooper mentioned Wiles’ denial of saying that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk – whose Department of Government Efficiency rampaged through the federal workforce earlier this year — is an "avowed" ketamine user and that Whipple played a tape for the New York Times confirming her quote.

“It's on tape, as is every assertion that Susie made,” Whipple said. “… I interviewed the inner circle as well. I talked to J.D. Vance, I talked to Marco Rubio, [advisor] Stephen Miller and others. All of it taped all of it on the record. And the giveaway is that they haven't been able to challenge a single fact.”

Watch the segment below:

- YouTube youtu.be

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Trump staffers air 'frustration with the president' over 'demoralizing' interview

Politico is reporting that several disgruntled staffers in President Donald Trump's administration are now speaking out in response to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles' candid comments to Vanity Fair's Chris Whipple.

In her interview with Vanity Fair, Wiles remarked that Trump had an "alcoholic's personality," that Vice President JD Vance was a "conspiracy theorist" and that Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was a "zealot." She also confirmed that Trump uses the Department of Justice against his own personal enemies, and said Attorney General Pam Bondi "completely whiffed" on the matter of the Epstein files.

In Politico's Tuesday report, several unnamed staffers in the Trump White House confided to the publication that they viewed Wiles' comments as "extremely demoralizing" and "very, very odd" given that Vanity Fair is not known for giving the Trump administration favorable coverage.

"What are we talking about? Jeffrey Epstein and Venezuela? James Comey? Letitia James?" One White House source anonymously said. "There’s a frustration on that, and I think a lot of that is frustration with the White House, but a lot of it is frustration with the president."

Some in the Trump White House acknowledged that Wiles is a seasoned Republican operative who has worked in politics for decades, and remarked that she felt empowered to plainly share her views on the Trump administration and some of its top personnel. Trump himself seemed to confirm Wiles' job security on Tuesday, telling the New York Post that he agreed with her assessment about him sharing common traits with alcoholics despite him being a teetotaler.

"Susie is incredibly savvy and knows exactly what ‘on background’ and ‘off the record’ mean; this was intentional," one source said. "She clearly feels well within her rights to speak so freely, and that the president has her back no matter what."

"Does she have some explaining to do? Sure but the president likes her," said one source described as a "high-level Republican close to the White House."

"In another administration ... Mark Meadows or Mick Mulvaney would have been fired or started writing their resignation letters by now," they added.

Click here to read Politico's article in its entirety.

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Evangelical shares Trump's 'dirty little secret' that prompted Vanity Fair bombshell

Christian Broadcaster News Chief Political Analyst David Brody told MS NOW clip that nobody should be surprised President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to be interviewed for Vanity Fair magazine.

The interview unleashed a host of shocking reactions, with Wiles telling Vanity Fair that Trump has an "alcoholic's personality" and Vice President JD Vance has been a "conspiracy theorist" for a decade. She also described former DOGE advisor Elon Must as “microdosing” ketamine while working for the White House

More interestingly, Wiles admitted that "there may be an element of" retribution in Trump's efforts to pursue criminal cases against political adversaries or perceived foes.

"I don't think he wakes up thinking about retribution," Wiles told Vanity Fair. "But when there's an opportunity, he will go for it."

The Hill reports Trump world is defending the interview, which potentially undermines the prosecution of former FBI head James Comey and state AG Letitia James, both of whom made themselves targets for retributive prosecution from Trump’s AG Pam Bondi.

Wiles herself has struck back at the Vanity Fair article, calling it “a disingenuously framed hit piece,” however Brody said Trump knew what he wanted when he approved the interview.

“The point is that Vanity Fair is not a conservative publication by any stretch, obviously. And so you wonder, well, why in the world did they do it? And here's the dirty little secret, quite frankly: All four of us know that … this White House, or any White House, craves legitimacy from the mainstream media. They just do. And I know he talks about ‘fake news’ all the time, but the truth of the matter is they want that good above-the-fold headline.”

“You can just see it right there in the Vanity Fair article,” Brody added. “I mean, my goodness, they were posing [on the cover] like it was … some sort of ABC … drama at 8 P.M. eastern or something, there on the desk. I mean, they had the whole look and everything. The point is, they wanted this. And now the White House is saying, well, actually we were misquoted or this or that.”

“I can tell you this, MAGA folks … are just saying, ‘you got to be kidding me.’ I mean, just why are you even going there is the big question,” Brody said.

Watch the segment below:

- YouTube youtu.be

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'Things are not going well': Former GOP pollster details Trump's 'horrific' past 48 hours

Bulwark publisher Sarah Longwell recently gave a blunt assessment for the unfortunate list of events that have dominated President Donald Trump’s last two days.

“Last 48 Hours: Trump’s horrific Rob Reiner murder tweet, Wiles should-be-career-ending VF interview, Kash on Katie Millers podcast [with his girlfriend] while a campus shooter is at large, and Hegseth refusing to show Congress the tape of his potential war crimes,” Longwell posted on X.

Critics, and even former advisors, are slamming the president's controversial comments about the death of filmmaker Rob Reiner, calling them "indefensible" and warning of the impact of such conduct on the 2026 midterms.

Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, also did a series of 11 bombshell interviews with Vanity Fair, revealing damaging inside secrets about the administration's chief personnel and goals.

Other social media commenters are similarly acknowledging that Trump has suffered a series of self-inflicted wounds from himself and his staff, possibly upsetting the administration’s policies for the next few weeks, or longer.

“Tipping Point USA,” posted attorney Brad Ketcher, who concentrates on political law.

“Shoutout if you saw this coming say ... December 16th, 2024,” posted podcaster Steve Anderson on X.

From across the ocean, in Germany, even Welt Chief Correspondent Clemens Wergin noted “Things are not going well for Trump.”

In Wiles’ denouncement on X of the resulting Vanity piece, one commenter noted Wiles “doesn't deny she made the statements (Trump was at Epstein's island, Trump has an ‘alcoholic personality’) and doesn't threaten to sue the writer because he's probably recorded the conversations.”

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Trump agrees with chief of staff's comment that he has an 'alcoholic's personality'

President Donald Trump is not only defending White House chief of staff Susie Wiles after she said her boss had an "alcoholic's personality," he's defending the comment itself.

The New York Post reported Tuesday that Wiles continues to have the full support of the president despite her comments, in which she dished on both Trump and top administration personnel. Trump the the Post that while he doesn't drink alcohol or abuse substances, he does have personality traits seen in addicts.

"No, she meant that I’m — you see, I don’t drink alcohol. So everybody knows that — but I’ve often said that if I did, I’d have a very good chance of being an alcoholic. I have said that many times about myself, I do. It’s a very possessive personality," Trump told the outlet.

"I’ve said that many times about myself. I’m fortunate I’m not a drinker," he continued. "If I did, I could very well, because I’ve said that — what’s the word? Not possessive — possessive and addictive type personality. Oh, I’ve said it many times, many times before."

The president added that while he hadn't personally read the interview, he maintained that Wiles was a "fantastic" chief of staff, and argued that Vanity Fair's Chris Whipple, who conducted multiple interviews, misrepresented her comments and took them out of context.

"If anybody knows the interviewer, and if they know Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair is a totally — it’s lost its way. It’s also lost its readers, as you know. No, she’s fantastic," Trump said.

While speaking to Whipple, Wiles called herself "an expert in big personalities" having grown up as the daughter of former New York Giants kicker Pat Summerall, who later became an alcoholic before eventually becoming sober for the final 21 years of his life. In addition to Trump, Wiles also commented on Vice President JD Vance, who she said has been a "conspiracy theorist for a decade." She also said that Attorney General Pam Bondi handled the Jeffrey Epstein files poorly.

Click here to read the Post's full report.

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Trump's top aide had her phone hacked — here's what her 'impersonator' asked officials

Federal investigators are examining a covert attempt to impersonate Susie Wiles, chief of staff to President Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The outlet reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that the impersonator reached out to senior Republican figures and leading business executives while impersonating Wiles.

Numerous high-profile individuals — including U.S. senators, governors, and corporate leaders — have received text messages and phone calls from someone falsely presenting themselves as the president's chief of staff, per the report.

READ MORE: Mike Johnson sent Musk a 'long text message' begging him to reconsider criticism of bill

Some recipients of the fake messages initially mistook them for legitimate communication, with the impersonator making what appeared to be official requests. In one instance, a member of Congress was asked to compile a list of individuals who might be eligible for presidential pardons.

Doubt began to surface when the impersonator posed oddly uninformed questions about Trump — queries that Susie Wiles, his close aide, would be expected to know. Suspicion escalated further when, according to several recipients, the impersonator brazenly requested a cash transfer.

According to the report, several people noted the language used was unusually stiff and grammatically flawed, unlike Wiles’s typical tone. Compounding the suspicion, the messages and calls originated from phone numbers not associated with her.

The communications have sparked concern within political and intelligence circles, with the FBI and White House working to determine who is behind the impersonation.

READ MORE: Today marks the beginning of the end of Donald Trump's bonkers 2nd regime

Some individuals familiar with the matter said it remains uncertain how the impersonator gained access to Susie Wiles’s contact list. Officials have reportedly told the White House that there is no evidence suggesting the involvement of a foreign government.

The individual posing as Susie Wiles has reportedly remained active in recent days, even sending out messages while Wiles was traveling overseas with Trump earlier this month during a visit to the Middle East.

This incident follows a previous breach during the last presidential race, when Iranian actors allegedly hacked Wiles’s email account, according to sources familiar with the situation. That cyberattack reportedly exposed internal research on Vice President JD Vance, Trump’s running mate.

“The White House takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated,” a White House spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal.

READ MORE: Stop playing this game': Michael Steele unleashes on 'stupid' Trump White House press sec

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'Cut back on the rigged election talk': Trump campaign chief admits his 2020 claims are bogus

One of the two heads of former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign recently made a eyebrow-raising admission about his claims of a supposedly stolen election in 2020.

In an interview with Atlantic contributor Tim Alberta, Trump campaign co-manager Susie Wiles (Chris LaCivita is the other) let it slip that she wasn't personally a believer in the former president's baseless assertions that he was the true winner of the 2020 election. Alberta wrote that he conducted multiple interviews with both LaCivita and Wiles over the course of roughly six months, and mined quotes from their conversations for his July 10 article entitled "Trump is planning for a landslide win."

One revealing exchange between Alberta and Wiles was about how Trump tended to continue bringing up his loss in the presidential election four years ago. The former president continuously refusing to acknowledge his narrow defeat appeared to worry Wiles on the campaign trail.

READ MORE: Trump is already priming his base to 'come out and fight' if he loses election: expert

"She boasted to me, during one conversation, that she had been somewhat successful in getting her boss to cut back on the rigged-election talk on the campaign trail," Alberta wrote, adding that Wiles said that “people want to have hope, they want to be inspired, they want to look forward."

"But in that same conversation, Wiles could not answer the question of whether the 2020 election had actually been stolen. 'I’m not sure,' she said, repeating the phrase three times," he continued.

Alberta added that, according to Wiles, Trump "thinks he knows” the true outcome of the election. But then, he noticed that Wiles seemed "to catch herself" when making the comment.

“But we know,” she added, “that it can’t happen again.”

READ MORE: Trump fanning flames of Jan. 6 could be 'a real problem' for Republicans in 2024: analysis

Trump himself has also let it slip that, despite all of his bluster, he knows he lost the 2020 election fair and square. In June, Vanity Fair co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh teased his forthcoming book by mentioning a conversation he had with Trump in which the former president admitted that he didn't win four years ago.

"In one of our conversations we were watching clips of The Apprentice, and I showed him a clip of Geraldo Rivera, who was a contestant. And he got worked up over their falling out and the feud that they had, and he said 'when I lost the election,'" Setoodeh told MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace last month. "And that was a really revealing moment to me and proved something I'd been thinking about, is Donald Trump is playing a character. He's a reality show character that projects this image that people want to see."

"And I think truthfully, if we were able to get inside of his head and find the truth, he would admit that he lost the election, because he said it to me," he added.

Click here to read Alberta's full article (subscription required).

READ MORE: 'When I lost the election': Author shares 'revealing moment' during Trump interview

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