- Susie Wiles' Vanity Fair interviews sharply criticized Trump, Vance, and Bondi, sparking internal backlash and claims the piece was a "hit piece."
- Wiles accused Vance of long-held conspiracy tendencies and slammed Bondi's handling of the Epstein files as disappointing to the base.
In a series of unusually frank interviews with Vanity Fair published on December 16, 2025, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles offered sharp assessments of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other key figures in the administration’s first year back in power.
The comments, drawn from 11 interviews conducted in real time amid ongoing events, quickly drew pushback from Wiles herself and allies in the West Wing, who accused the magazine of framing the piece as a “hit piece.”
Wiles described the teetotaling Trump—who has long emphasized that he does not drink alcohol—as having “an alcoholic’s personality.”
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She explained that he “operates [with] a view that there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing.”
This characterization came as Wiles reflected on Trump’s boundless confidence and approach to challenges throughout his second term.
Criticism of Vance and Bondi
On Vice President JD Vance, Wiles noted that he has “been a conspiracy theorist for a decade.”
She tied this remark to discussions about the handling of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, suggesting Vance’s evolution from a Trump critic to loyal ally was “sort of political,” driven in part by his Senate run in Ohio.
Vance, speaking to reporters at an event in Pennsylvania the same day the articles dropped, shrugged off the label.
“I haven’t looked at the article. I, of course, have heard about it. But conspiracy theorist, sometimes I am a conspiracy theorist but I only believe in the conspiracy theories that are true,” Vance said.
He added, “And by the way, Susie and I have joked in private and in public about that for a long time.”
Wiles was particularly critical of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s early approach to releasing documents tied to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—a topic that has gripped Trump’s base since promises of transparency during the 2024 campaign.
“I think she completely whiffed on appreciating that that was the very targeted group that cared about this,” Wiles said, referring to Bondi distributing binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” to conservative influencers in February 2025.
Those binders, critics noted at the time, contained mostly previously public information, leading to disappointment among supporters eager for new revelations.
Wiles went further: “First, she gave them binders full of nothingness. And then she said that the witness list, or the client list, was on her desk. There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn’t on her desk.”
Bondi, a longtime Trump ally who served as Florida’s attorney general before her nomination, faced scrutiny during her confirmation process earlier in the year.
Trump announced her as his pick on November 21, 2024, after Matt Gaetz withdrew amid controversy.
The Senate confirmed her in a 54-46 vote on February 4, 2025, with one Democrat crossing party lines.
As the first woman nominated by a Republican president for the role, Bondi pledged independence but has overseen a Justice Department aligned closely with Trump’s priorities, including reviews of past investigations.
Wiles also called Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought “a right-wing absolute zealot” and described billionaire Elon Musk as an “odd, odd duck” and “avowed ketamine [user].”
Musk’s aggressive cuts to federal agencies left her “aghast,” according to the interviews.
Wins and Losses: More Than One Side to the Story
The Vanity Fair pieces—titled “Susie Wiles, JD Vance, and the ‘Junkyard Dogs’: The White House Chief of Staff On Trump’s Second Term” (Part 1) and a follow-up on topics like the Epstein files and tariffs (Part 2)—painted a picture of an administration achieving big wins but navigating internal frictions and chaotic rollouts.
Wiles fired back swiftly on X, calling the reporting “a disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest President, White House staff, and Cabinet in history.”
She emphasized overlooked context: “The truth is the Trump White House has already accomplished more in eleven months than any other President has accomplished in eight years and that is due to the unmatched leadership and vision of President Trump, for whom I have been honored to work for the better part of a decade.”
Wiles added that positive remarks about the team and Trump were omitted to create a “chaotic and negative narrative.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the defense on X: “Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has helped President Trump achieve the most successful first 11 months in office of any President in American history.
President Trump has no greater or more loyal advisor than Susie.
The entire Administration is grateful for her steady leadership and united fully behind her.”
Healthy Criticism Helps Move Forward
Neither Trump, Bondi, nor Musk issued public responses to the specific quotes as of Tuesday evening.
This isn’t the first time Wiles has been central to Trumpworld drama.
As co-campaign manager for Trump’s 2024 victory, she earned a reputation for discipline and loyalty, becoming the first woman to run a successful Republican presidential campaign.
Trump tapped her as chief of staff immediately after the election, a role she’s used to assemble a Cabinet of loyalists, including Pete Hegseth at Defense (renamed “secretary of war” in some contexts), Kash Patel at FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence.
JD Vance, meanwhile, has emerged as a key player in the administration beyond his ceremonial duties.
Early on, he cast tie-breaking Senate votes for controversial nominees like Hegseth and has served as Trump’s top messenger on economic issues, traveling to swing states like Pennsylvania to tout upcoming tax benefits from Republican legislation.
Vance has also weighed in on foreign policy, attending high-profile meetings and pushing the administration’s line on issues from Ukraine to Europe.
The Epstein files remain a flashpoint. Trump’s base, as well as bipartisan calls, has long demanded full disclosure.
Bondi’s phased release drew backlash for lacking bombshells, and while more documents are slated for public view later, the handling underscored tensions between expectations and delivery.
What Happens Now?
As the administration marks nearly a year in office, these revelations highlight the tightrope walked by even its most trusted insiders.
Wiles, known for avoiding the spotlight, now finds herself at the center of it—defending a team she helped build while navigating the candid reflections that come with proximity to power.
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