Trump has 'alcoholic’s personality', says chief of staff

Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, drew scrutiny on Tuesday after a Vanity Fair profile quoted her describing US President Donald Trump as having “an alcoholic’s personality” and giving candid assessments of top aides. In the first part of the profile, Wiles is quoted saying Trump, a teetotaler, has “an alcoholic’s personality,” a comparison she linked to her familiarity with addiction in her family. The article cites Wiles' sharp characterizations of senior figures, including calling Vice President JD Vance “a conspiracy theorist for a decade,” labeling policy adviser Russell Vought “a right-wing absolute zealot,” and suggesting that Elon Musk is “microdosing.” The piece also portrays Wiles as a facilitator of Trump’s agenda and includes her account of internal policy and personnel debates. Vanity Fair reports the remarks came from multiple on-the-record conversations during Trump’s second term. Discussing the push to release the Epstein files, Wiles said she had underestimated the issue’s political potency.

“There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn’t on her desk,” she said, criticizing Attorney-General Pam Bondi’s handling of the case. “[Trump] is in the file. And we know he’s in the file. And he’s not in the file doing anything awful. He was on [Epstein’s] plane… he’s on the manifest.” Addressing claims about former president Bill Clinton, Wiles said that there was no evidence that he visited Epstein’s island. Wiles distancing herself from her portrayal Tuesday morning. She said on X that it was “a disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history.” She said it was missing context.

The article published early this morning is a disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history.

Significant context was disregarded and much of what I, and others, said about the team and the President was left out of the…

— Susie Wiles (@SusieWiles) December 16, 2025

Trump gave Wiles a vote of confidence in an interview later Tuesday with the New York Post, casting doubt on the accuracy of the report. But he suggested he saw some truth in her comment about him, because even though he doesn’t drink, he does have a “possessive and addictive type personality.” “I didn’t read it, but I don’t read Vanity Fair — but she’s done a fantastic job,” Trump told the Post.