Washington, 17 Dec 2025 – White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has stirred headlines with a candid Vanity Fair interview, describing President Donald Trump as having an “alcoholic’s personality”, calling tech entrepreneur Elon Musk an “odd, odd duck”, and Vice President JD Vance a “conspiracy theorist”.

The two-part article, based on 11 interviews conducted over the past year by journalist Chris Whipple, paints Wiles as the most powerful person in Trump’s second-term White House after the president. Wiles chronicled crises, high-stakes decisions, and internal dynamics during the first year of Trump’s return to office.

Key Takeaways from Wiles’ Interview:

• On Trump: Wiles said she expected a calmer, “new” Trump during his second term but added he operates with a “view that there’s nothing he can’t do.” Trump defended the comments, emphasizing he doesn’t drink.
• On JD Vance: Wiles described the vice president as politically loyal but long engaged with conspiracy theories. Vance publicly praised Wiles’ professionalism.
• On Elon Musk: She called Musk a “solo actor” and highlighted his unconventional habits while acknowledging his genius.
• Other Issues: Wiles criticized the USAID shutdown, questioned Trump’s January 6 pardons, and supported his approach to alleged drug trafficking at sea.
• Reaction: Wiles slammed the Vanity Fair report as a “disingenuously framed hit piece”, while Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended her, praising her loyalty and effectiveness.

Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, has risen from a Capitol Hill intern in the 1970s to one of the most influential figures in Trump’s administration.