Americano Why did Susie Wiles talk to Vanity Fair?
Dec 16, 2025
In this enlightening conversation, Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair's Washington correspondent, shares insights from his revealing two-part interview with Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff in the Trump White House. They delve into Wiles's pivotal role in streamlining the second-term campaign, her candid assessments of Trump and key figures like J.D. Vance, and how factional tensions may impact the 2024 race. Aidan also discusses the political implications of mishandled issues like the Epstein files and the potential for intra-administration leaks as rivalries intensify.
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Wiles Keeps The White House Tightly Run
- Susie Wiles is credited with professionalising the second-term White House and reducing leaks and infighting.
- Aidan McLaughlin says her GOP campaign background made the administration run far more smoothly than Trump's first term.
How The Scoop Was Sourced
- Chris Whipple spent a year and conducted 11 on-the-record interviews with Susie Wiles for the Vanity Fair pieces.
- McLaughlin notes Wiles likely didn't see her comments as explosive when given over time.
Unusually Candid Character Judgments
- Wiles gives candid personality assessments of senior figures, calling Trump 'an alcoholic's personality' and criticizing others like J.D. Vance and Elon Musk.
- McLaughlin frames these remarks as unusually revealing for a sitting chief of staff and politically consequential.