December 18, 2025 | 02:09 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President of the United States Donald Trump has expressed support for his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, after she characterized him as having "the personality of an alcoholic." Despite the provocative comparison, Trump told The New York Post on Tuesday that Wiles’ assessment was accurate, even though the 79-year-old famously abstains from alcohol.
"You see, I don't drink alcohol. So everybody knows that — but I've often said that if I did, I'd have a very good chance of being an alcoholic. I have said that many times about myself, I do. It's a very possessive personality," Trump said. He added that Wiles has "done a fantastic job" in her role.
The comments surfaced in a Vanity Fair profile, as quoted by The Mercury, based on interviews with journalist Chris Whipple. Wiles, whose late father, NFL commentator Pat Summerall, struggled with alcoholism, reportedly noted that Trump operates under the conviction that "there's nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing."
Behind the Scenes of the Trump Administration
The Vanity Fair provides a rare, unfiltered look at the inner workings of the White House. According to the report, Wiles offered candid and often sharp assessments of key figures.
Wiles reportedly characterized Vice President JD Vance as "a conspiracy theorist for a decade" regarding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
She called technology tycoon Elon Musk "an odd, odd duck." Musk, who heads Tesla and SpaceX, led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with tasks of cutting costs in the early months of Trump's term.
She also described him as a "complete solo actor" and a user of ketamine. Wiles specifically criticized DOGE’s closure of USAID, stating, "No rational person could think the USAID process was a good one."
Wiles allegedly remarked that Attorney General Pam Bondi "completely whiffed" regarding the release of Epstein-related documents and labeled Budget Director Russ Vought a "right-wing absolute zealot."
The profile also touched on policy, suggesting Wiles had a "loose agreement" with Trump to end his "score settling" tour against political enemies after 90 days, a timeline the President has seemingly ignored.
Regarding Ukraine, she noted Trump’s belief that Vladimir Putin "wants the whole country," even as Washington pushes for a peace settlement.
Wiles Strikes Back at "Biased" Narrative
Wiles has since dismissed the article as an "invented and biased" hit piece designed to portray the administration as chaotic. In a written statement, she argued that "Significant context was disregarded" and that the story omitted positive remarks about the President and the team.
The administration’s top brass quickly rallied behind her. Vice President Vance noted that he and Wiles often "joked in private and in public" about conspiracy theories, but emphasized her unwavering loyalty.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also issued staunch defenses, with Leavitt accusing Vanity Fair of "bias of omission."
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