By Peter.
A bombshell Vanity Fair profile of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, published on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, has sparked intense backlash and speculation about internal tensions in President Donald Trump’s second-term administration.
Based on 11 in-depth interviews conducted over the past year by writer Chris Whipple, the two-part feature portrays Wiles as extraordinarily candid, offering unflattering assessments of Trump and key allies. Notably, Wiles described the president—who does not drink—as having “an alcoholic’s personality,” explaining he operates with the mindset that “there’s nothing he can’t do.” She drew parallels to her late father, sportscaster Pat Summerall, who struggled with alcoholism.
Wiles also labeled Vice President JD Vance a “conspiracy theorist for a decade,” called former DOGE head Elon Musk an “avowed ketamine [user]” and “odd duck,” and referred to OMB Director Russ Vought as a “right-wing zealot.” She expressed reservations about aspects of Trump’s agenda, including retribution efforts, mass deportations, and pardons for January 6 participants.
The article is accompanied by stark black-and-white portraits by photographer Christopher Anderson, including a group shot in the Roosevelt Room featuring Wiles, Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Deputy Chiefs James Blair and Dan Scavino, and adviser Stephen Miller. During the shoot, nerves were evident: one official quipped, “We’re all going to get fired for this,” to which Vance replied, “Except for me—I have 100 percent job security.” Vance also made light-hearted jabs, asking if this was “the part where you say we’re all evil” and offering mock bounties for unflattering photos of colleagues.
Wiles quickly pushed back on X, calling the piece a “disingenuously framed hit piece” that omitted context to portray chaos. Press Secretary Leavitt defended her, stating Trump has “no greater or more loyal adviser than Susie,” with the administration “united fully behind her.” Trump himself told the New York Post he has full confidence in Wiles, dismissing the reporting as misguided while agreeing he has an “addictive” personality.
The profile has fueled rumors of potential shakeups, though allies rallied in support amid the fallout.
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