Overview
- Vanity Fair published excerpts from 11 on-the-record interviews in which chief of staff Susie Wiles described Trump as having the “personality of an alcoholic” and leveled sharp critiques of JD Vance, Russell Vought, Pam Bondi, and Elon Musk.
- Wiles rejected the story as a dishonest hit piece and said quotes were taken out of context, while White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt and senior allies publicly expressed support for her.
- The New York Times reported it obtained recordings from Vanity Fair that corroborate Wiles’ quoted remarks.
- Trump declined to walk back his post about the assassination of director Rob Reiner and effectively reaffirmed it on camera, drawing condemnation from a range of Republican lawmakers.
- In new comments, Trump said he was not offended by Wiles’ “alcoholic” characterization and kept her in place, underscoring her standing as an indispensable figure in the West Wing.