Trump’s chief of staff raises concerns about GOP voters and offers blunt assessments of Elon Musk and JD Vance
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles offered a rare, candid view of President Donald Trump’s governing mindset in an extensive on-the-record interview with Vanity Fair. Wiles rarely speaks publicly, and senior White House officials almost never do so on the record, making this interview particularly striking.
Over months of conversations, Wiles provided an unusually candid account of how power operates inside Trump’s second-term administration, what motivates the president, and how she manages the people around him.
Tracking GOP Warning Signs
Behind the confidence that defines Trump’s second-term White House, Wiles is quietly tracking potential warning signs for the Republican Party. In the interview, she acknowledged concerns that Trump’s priorities could alienate newer, less loyal voters.
One flashpoint is the administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Wiles suggested the issue resonates most strongly not with Trump’s core base, but with voters Republicans can least afford to lose.
“The people that are inordinately interested in Epstein are the new members of the Trump coalition,” Wiles said. “The people that I think about all the time — because I want to make sure that they are not Trump voters, they’re Republican voters.”
She specifically pointed to “the Joe Rogan listeners” and other voters “sort of new to our world,” adding, “It’s not the MAGA base.”
Wiles also voiced concern that Trump is spending too much political capital on foreign affairs while domestic economic pressures remain front of mind for voters.
“More talks about the domestic economy and less about Saudi Arabia is probably called for,” she said. “They like peace in the world. But that’s not why he was elected.”
Despite these concerns, Wiles struck an optimistic note about the party’s prospects:
“We’re going to win the midterms,” she predicted.
Still, the interview suggests a familiar dynamic inside Trump’s White House: a chief of staff who raises concerns, registers dissent, and ultimately accepts the president’s decisions. As Trump continues to dismiss affordability concerns as a “Democrat hoax,” Wiles’s influence appears limited to advising, not redirecting, the president’s focus.
Unvarnished Views of Musk and Vance
Despite her loyalty to Trump, Wiles was notably candid about other powerful figures in his circle.
Regarding Elon Musk, who oversaw the rapid dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, she said: “He is a complete solo actor.”
Wiles described Musk as “an odd, odd duck” and criticized what she saw as his scorched-earth approach to governance.
“You can’t just lock people out of their offices,” she recalled telling him.
She also mentioned Musk’s drug use, calling him “an avowed ketamine [user],” while noting she had no firsthand knowledge.
Her assessment of Vice President JD Vance was equally blunt. Wiles described his shift from Trump critic to vice president as “sort of political” and noted that he had been “a conspiracy theorist for a decade.”
Trump’s Alcoholic Personality
Wiles also described Trump as having an “alcoholic’s personality,” drawing from her experience with her late father, a longtime alcoholic, to explain his intense drive and confidence despite not drinking.
The article prompted backlash from Republican officials and allies, who criticized it as a “hit piece” and said Wiles’ comments were taken out of context. Vanity Fair, however, confirmed that all quotes were recorded and on tape.
Wiles defended herself on X, emphasizing that significant context was left out. “I assume, after reading it, that this was done to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team,” she wrote.
Trump publicly defended Wiles, telling the New York Post she had done a “fantastic job” and that he was not offended by her phrasing. “I’m fortunate I’m not a drinker. 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,” Trump said.
