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White House chief Susie Wiles says Trump ‘has an alcoholic’s personality’, calls Elon Musk drug user

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, shared candid critiques of President Trump and his associates in interviews with Vanity Fair.

Updated on: Dec 16, 2025, 22:48:55 IST
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Susie Wiles, the chief of staff at the White House, provided a number of candid yet harsh evaluations of President Donald Trump, his agenda for a second term, and several of his closest associates during a series of extensive interviews with Vanity Fair that were published on Tuesday.

Susie Wiles, the chief of staff at the White House (AP File)
Susie Wiles, the chief of staff at the White House (AP File)

In over 10 interviews, Wiles candidly discussed her experiences working for Trump, characterizing the President as having an “alcoholic’s personality,” even though he is recognized as a teetotaler, CNN reported.

Wiles, 68, made this comment during an interview with author Chris Whipple, which was part of a larger reporting initiative concerning Trump's second term.

She admitted that Trump's thirst for revenge influenced many of his actions during his second term, acknowledging that they were motivated by a desire for retribution.

Wiles further stated that Trump was attempting to effect regime change in Venezuela through his boat-bombing campaign, which stands in contrast to the official explanations provided for the strikes. Furthermore, she recounted several contentious issues where the president disregarded her counsel, particularly regarding deportations and pardons.

Also Read: H1-B visa row: Applicant shares interview experience after being ‘refused’ amid social media vetting

Susie Wiles blasts Musk

She even targeted Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Inc., claiming that he was an “avowed” ketamine user. She even called him an “odd, odd duck”.

She stated that she was “aghast” when Musk decided to shut down USAID. Nevertheless, Wiles acknowledged Musk’s rapid execution approach, saying: “Elon’s attitude is you have to get it done fast. If you’re an incrementalist, you just won’t get your rocket to the moon.”

“And so with that attitude, you’re going to break some China. But no rational person could think the USAID process was a good one. Nobody,” she added.

Continuing to expressing candid opinions regarding influential individuals, she remarked that Vice President JD Vance has been “a conspiracy theorist for a decade,” as per a report by Deadline.

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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