Listen to the article
In a revealing series of interviews with Vanity Fair published Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles offered rare, candid insights into President Donald Trump’s second administration while criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House Chief of Staff, typically maintains a low profile despite her significant influence within the Trump administration. Her extensive conversations with the magazine, conducted since Trump took office in January, provide an unusual glimpse into the inner workings of the White House.
Following the article’s publication, Wiles pushed back against its portrayal, calling it a “disingenuously framed hit piece” that painted “an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team.” However, she did not dispute any specific comments attributed to her in the piece.
Regarding the Epstein case, Wiles admitted she had underestimated public interest in the matter, stating she hadn’t fully appreciated “whether all these rich, important men went to that nasty island and did unforgivable things to young girls.” She confirmed having read the Epstein file, asserting that Trump is “not in the file doing anything awful,” despite their past friendship before a falling out.
Wiles was particularly critical of Bondi’s approach to the Epstein case, referencing an incident earlier this year when the Attorney General distributed binders to social media influencers that contained no new information, only intensifying calls from Trump’s base for file releases. “I think she completely whiffed on appreciating that that was the very targeted group that cared about this,” Wiles said, adding bluntly, “There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn’t on her desk.”
The Justice Department faces a Friday deadline to release all Epstein-related documents after Trump, who initially objected to their release, signed legislation mandating public disclosure.
In her characterization of Trump, Wiles described him much as he presents himself publicly—an intense figure with broad vision who often lacks interest in policy details. She compared Trump to “an alcoholic’s personality,” drawing from her experience with her father, renowned sports broadcaster Pat Summerall, despite Trump being a non-drinker. “High-functioning alcoholics or alcoholics in general, their personalities are exaggerated when they drink… Trump has a view that there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing,” she explained.
On foreign policy, Wiles made noteworthy comments about U.S. operations near Venezuela, saying Trump wants to “keep blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.” This statement appears at odds with the administration’s official position that the strikes target drug trafficking rather than pursuing regime change. She maintained the administration is “very sure we know who we’re blowing up,” even as congressional scrutiny intensifies over the mounting death toll.
Wiles also addressed Trump’s widely-reported desire for retribution against political opponents. She revealed they had a “loose agreement that the score settling will end before the first 90 days are over,” though the administration has now passed that milestone. In later conversations, she reframed this approach: “I don’t think he’s on a retribution tour,” suggesting instead that Trump wants to prevent others from experiencing what he did.
However, when asked specifically about the prosecution of New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud, Wiles candidly admitted: “Well, that might be the one retribution.”
Following the article’s publication, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly supported Wiles, writing on social media: “President Trump has no greater or more loyal advisor than Susie. The entire Administration is grateful for her steady leadership and united fully behind her.”
The revelations provide rare insight into the leadership style of Wiles, who has orchestrated Trump’s successful 2024 campaign before assuming her historic role as the first female White House Chief of Staff, managing one of the most controversial administrations in modern American history.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
12 Comments
Interesting insights from the White House Chief of Staff. I’m curious to hear more about the behind-the-scenes dynamics and how the administration is handling high-profile cases like Epstein.
Transparency and accountability are crucial, especially for those in positions of power. I hope the administration will address these issues transparently.
The Vanity Fair article provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the White House, and Wiles’ comments offer valuable insights. I’m curious to see how the administration will respond to the portrayal and address the concerns raised.
Maintaining public trust is critical, and I hope the administration will continue to engage with the media and the public in a transparent and constructive manner.
Wiles’ comments offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the White House. While the administration may push back against the portrayal, it’s valuable to hear these kinds of perspectives.
I hope the administration will continue to engage with the public and the media in a transparent and constructive manner, even on sensitive issues.
The Epstein case seems to have raised a lot of difficult questions that the administration is still grappling with. I appreciate Wiles’ candor in acknowledging the underestimation of public interest in this matter.
It’s important that the administration follows the facts and upholds the rule of law, regardless of the individuals involved. The public deserves answers.
The Epstein case has clearly been a challenging one for the administration to navigate. I appreciate Wiles’ acknowledgment of the public’s strong interest in the matter.
Upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability should be the top priorities, regardless of the individuals involved.
It’s interesting to hear the Chief of Staff’s perspective on the Epstein case and the administration’s handling of it. Transparency and accountability are crucial, and I hope the administration will continue to address these issues head-on.
The public deserves a thorough and impartial investigation into the Epstein case, and I hope the administration will prioritize this.