Trump's Chief of Staff Calls His Personality 'Alcoholic'
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles looks on as President Donald Trump speaks to the press during a bilateral dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Monday, July 7, 2025, in the Blue Room. Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok. Public domain.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has dropped a bombshell on the Trump administration with a series of candid interviews that peel back the curtain on the president's first year back in office. Her remarks, published by Vanity Fair, reportedly reveal a White House rife with sharp personalities, internal conflicts, and a president described in terms rarely heard from his closest aides. Wiles's blunt assessments have ignited a firestorm of debate, with fierce pushback from the Trump camp and questions swirling about the administration's cohesion and direction.
'An Alcoholic's Personality' in the Oval Office
One of the most striking revelations from Wiles is her description of President Donald Trump as having "an alcoholic's personality," despite the president's well-known abstinence from alcohol, as reported by The Guardian. Wiles, who reportedly grew up with a father who struggled with alcoholism, said she considers herself "a little bit of an expert in big personalities" and sees parallels in Trump's intense, larger-than-life demeanor. She explained that high-functioning alcoholics often have exaggerated personalities, and Trump "operates with a view that there's nothing he can't do. Nothing, zero, nothing," as reported by PEOPLE.
This characterization offers a rare psychological glimpse into the president's behavior from someone inside the West Wing. Wiles's frankness extends beyond Trump to other key figures, painting a picture of a White House where strong personalities clash and cooperate in equal measure.
Inside the Trump Inner Circle: Vance, Musk, and More
Wiles did not hold back in her assessments of other top officials. Vice President JD Vance, she said, has been "a conspiracy theorist for a decade," and his embrace of the MAGA movement was "sort of political," as reported by The Guardian. This blunt label adds fuel to ongoing debates about Vance's political evolution and his role in the administration.
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who took on a government efficiency role, drew sharp criticism from Wiles. She called Musk "a complete solo actor" and "an odd, odd duck," expressing shock at his decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as reported by The Guardian. Wiles said she was "initially aghast" at Musk's approach, which involved shutting down the agency and firing staff before rebuilding it, a method she did not endorse, as reported by Vanity Fair.
Wiles also referred to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as "quirky Bobby," acknowledging his tendency to "push the envelope" but defending it as necessary to "get back to the middle," as reported by The Guardian.
Policy Discord and the 'Liberation Day' Tariffs
The interviews reportedly reveal internal discord over major policy decisions, including the rollout of Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs. Wiles described the tariff implementation as "so much thinking out loud," with aides sharply divided on the strategy, according to The Guardian. She recounted asking Vance to advise Trump to hold off on discussing tariffs until the team was unified, but the president pushed ahead regardless. Wiles admitted the tariffs have been "more painful than I expected."
This glimpse into the administration's policy debates highlights the challenges of managing a president who often acts on impulse, with Wiles positioned as the key figure trying to channel his whims into coherent governance.
Trump's 'Revenge Crusade' and Wiles's Role
Wiles addressed the widely reported narrative of Trump's "retribution tour" against political enemies. Early in the administration, she said there was a "loose agreement" that score settling would end within the first 90 days, as reported by The Guardian. However, by August 2025, she shifted her view, arguing that Trump's motivation was not revenge but a principle of preventing others from suffering what he experienced. "I don't think he's on a retribution tour," she said, "I don't want what happened to me to happen to somebody else."
Still, Wiles acknowledged that some actions might appear as retribution, particularly in cases involving officials who had "done bad things," as reported by Vanity Fair. She noted that in tied decisions, Trump's view prevails, underscoring her role as a facilitator rather than a restrainer of the president's impulses.
The Epstein Files and Attorney General Pam Bondi
Wiles's comments also reignited controversy over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. She criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi as having "whiffed" on the case, particularly for distributing binders labeled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" to conservative influencers that contained "nothing but old information," as reported by Vanity Fair. Bondi had claimed a client list was on her desk, but Wiles insisted, "There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn't on her desk."
Wiles revealed that key figures like Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino understood the importance of releasing the files, while Vance, described as a conspiracy theorist, was also involved in pushing for transparency.
Pardons and January 6 Controversy
Wiles discussed the controversial pardons issued by Trump to those convicted in the January 6, 2021, Capitol assault. She said Trump's view was that many of those pardoned had already served more time than sentencing guidelines suggested. Wiles explained that in every case Trump considered, the individuals had "already served more time than the sentencing guidelines would have suggested," and she supported pardoning those who were "happenstancers or didn't do anything violent," as reported by Vanity Fair. The scope of pardons has been a subject of debate, and Wiles's comments reflect her perspective and the administration's rationale.
Lethal Strikes and Venezuela
Wiles also revealed Trump's aggressive stance on Venezuela, stating the president "wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle," referring to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as reported by Vanity Fair. This contradicts the official rationale that strikes target drug smuggling. Wiles argued that the president views these strikes as saving lives, not killing people. As of the article's publication, The Washington Post reported that at least 87 people had been killed in U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Backlash and Defense: A 'Hit Piece' and Loyal Allies
The fallout from Wiles's interviews was swift. She publicly denounced the Vanity Fair coverage as "a disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest president, White House staff, and cabinet in history," accusing the article of omitting context and selectively quoting her to create a negative narrative, as reported by PEOPLE.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "President Trump has no greater or more loyal adviser than Susie," as reported by The Daily Beast. "The entire administration is grateful to her steady leadership and united fully behind her."
MAGA commentator Scott Jennings dismissed the controversy over Wiles's remarks as typical of White House dynamics, focusing instead on what he called the "egregious" nature of the Vanity Fair photos, which he argued were edited to make officials look bad, as reported by The Daily Beast.
A Rare Window Into the West Wing
Wiles's interviews provide a rare, unfiltered look inside the White House. Her willingness to speak openly about Trump's personality, internal conflicts, and policy challenges offers valuable insight into the administration's workings. Yet, the candidness also exposes fault lines and raises questions about the balance between loyalty and accountability in the highest office.
As one former GOP chief of staff told Vanity Fair, Wiles "may be more consequential than any of us," underscoring the unique power she wields in managing a president known for his unpredictability.
Whether Wiles's role will ultimately stabilize or further complicate the Trump presidency remains to be seen. For now, her candid profile has sparked debate, revealing the human drama behind the headlines and the complex personalities shaping America's political landscape.
References: From 'odd' Musk to 'painful' tariffs: key takeaways from interviews with Trump's chief of staff | Trump administration | Donald Trump's Chief of Staff Says He Has an 'Alcoholic's Personality' | Scott Jennings Thinks There's a Bigger Scandal in the Vanity Fair Article | Susie Wiles, JD Vance, and the "Junkyard Dogs": The White House Chief of Staff on Trump's Second Term (Part 1 of 2) | Susie Wiles Talks Epstein Files, Pete Hegseth's War Tactics, Retribution, and More (Part 2 of 2)
