WASHINGTON — President Trump moved Friday to end two days of speculation over whether he might replace White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, declaring there was “zero chance” she would be fired and saying she would remain in the administration “for a long time.”
Trump regularly introduces Wiles as the world’s most powerful woman and credits her as the person chiefly responsible for his return to the White House. Yet despite being declared cancer-free last month after continuing to work through medical treatments, Wiles became the focus of intense Washington speculation this week.
Politico’s influential Playbook newsletter reported Thursday that Trump had been asking allies whom they considered suitable to replace Wiles. The report sparked a rush of rumors and lobbying as questions grew about whether the chief of staff’s position was in jeopardy.
Trump dismissed the report as “fake news” Friday and said, “I could not be more happy with Susie.”
A close outside adviser to Trump told The Post that the president was sincere. “I can tell when he is being genuine, and he really meant that,” the adviser said.
Wiles has received broad credit for bringing stability and unity to the West Wing after Trump’s first term was marked by constant personnel turmoil and speculation over which aide might be dismissed next.
Still, questions about her influence intensified after Trump made an impromptu offer last Friday to hire Katie Zacharia as press secretary. Wiles knew Trump was pursuing Zacharia, but she did not take part in the interview or advocate for her appointment.
Zacharia was out of the job by Friday, having lasted fewer than five days. Her brief tenure followed an uneven 14-minute press briefing Tuesday and several unflattering Fox News appearances. The abrupt hiring’s failure also indirectly benefited Wiles, who had not been responsible for bringing Zacharia aboard.
Wiles and other senior Trump allies have increasingly become the subject of internal intrigue as administration insiders anticipate that the president will seek someone to blame if Republicans perform poorly in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Trump is not expected to fault himself after traveling extensively across the country and attempting to overcome bleak polling by mobilizing his base.
“Trump is getting restless and once [he] feels he is losing, he always takes control,” a former senior Trump aide told The Post shortly before the president publicly reaffirmed his support for Wiles. “[If] Susie was smart she would leave and go make money without a DJT problem.”
Trump publicly expressed anger last week after learning that Chris LaCivita and James Blair, two leaders of the MAGA Inc. super PAC, had left the U.S. campaign to visit the pro-Russian Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a lucrative side venture.
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The trip created the impression that members of Trump’s team were focusing on outside interests while his own political future was at stake. Should Republicans lose the midterms, Trump, his administration and his family are expected to face aggressive Democratic investigations that could potentially result in his third impeachment.
After LaCivita and Blair’s trip became public, later reports revealed that Wiles’ daughter, Katie, had also recently traveled to the Bosnian territory.
LaCivita led Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign with Wiles, while Blair served as Wiles’ deputy in the West Wing until April. Blair once referred to himself as her “junkyard dog.”
Although LaCivita and Blair have long been close to Wiles, numerous insiders said their former alliance had fractured. Others described an increasingly complicated blame game, with prominent Trump lieutenants trying to protect their jobs and reputations ahead of the potentially severe fallout from a Republican midterm defeat.
“All the infighting [is] so so great two weeks ahead of midterms,” one administration official exclaimed.
At the same time, speculation has grown over possible successors to Wiles. Names circulating include Bill Pulte, a federal housing official who frequently travels aboard Air Force One and recently served as acting intelligence director, as well as deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
Longtime Wiles critics, including Corey Lewandowski, are also positioning themselves. According to The Washington Post, the former campaign aide who was pushed out of the Department of Homeland Security alongside Kristi Noem has advocated for Pulte, although Lewandowski has denied discussing the matter with Trump.
People inside and close to the White House said they believe the work involving Wiles’ daughter could become ammunition for additional corruption allegations. That could put pressure on Wiles, who had developed a reputation as an exception to the self-dealing accusations surrounding several top aides in Trump’s second term.
“Stephen Miller might feel it is finally his time and start really cutting at the ‘Susie’ squad,” an insider said.
Another said, however, that it’s possible Republicans will beat expectations, keeping losses low in the House and retaining the Senate, adding, “As long as she wants the job, I think she could have it.”
Some Republican sources argue that staff would not be blamed for an election wipeout, pointing to the effects of the longer-than-anticipated Iran war, which has spurred voter frustrations with higher energy prices, rising inflation and increased interest rates.
“Anyone with even a modicum of honest self reflection would admit that the driving force behind potential GOP midterm losses is the war in Iran,” said a source close to the White House.
“It split the president’s coalition, reminded swing voters that the administration wasn’t focusing on their domestic concerns and most importantly triggered a rise in gas prices. It’s ironic to me that so many of the voices in elite conservative media circles lamenting our current political predicament were also some of the biggest cheerleaders for bombing Iran.”
