WASHINGTON — President Trump stunningly announced Monday that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with “early-stage breast cancer.”
“She has a fantastic medical team, and her prognosis is excellent!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “During the treatment period, she will be spending virtually full time at the White House, which makes me, as President, very happy!
“Her Strength and her Commitment to continue doing the job she loves, and does so well, while undergoing treatment, tells you everything you need to know about her.”
Wiles, 68, appeared alongside Trump at an event in the White House East Room moments after the announcement, wearing a pink blazer — the color of breast cancer awareness.
In a statement released while the event was going on, Wiles confirmed: “This past week, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis. Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work, and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks,” she went on. “I am grateful to have an outstanding team of doctors who detected the cancer early and are guiding my care, and I am encouraged by a strong prognosis.
“I am also deeply thankful for the support and encouragement of President Trump as I undergo treatment and continue serving in my role as White House Chief of Staff.”
Wiles is widely regarded by Trump aides as the most effective of his five permanent or acting chiefs of staff over his two terms — quietly wielding her influence to advance the president’s policies while guarding against the infighting that plagued his first term.
Unlike some of Trump’s first-term chiefs of staff, Wiles is seen as an unwavering supporter of the president rather than one who attempts to slow-walk his requests and speaks derisively about him in private.
“Susie, as one of my closest and most important advisors, is tough and deeply committed to serving the American People. She will soon be better than ever!” Trump added in his statement.
“Melania and I are with her in every way, and we look forward to working with Susie on the many big and wonderful things that are happening for the benefit of our Country!”
Wiles worked as a junior staffer in Ronald Reagan’s administration, but made a name for herself in Florida politics, where she worked for prominent GOP office-holders and candidates before chairing Trump’s 2016 state campaign.
She was Trump’s national campaign manager for his against-all-odds comeback in 2024, which prevailed despite the then-former president facing GOP rivals, staring down four criminal cases, and surviving two assassination attempts.
Wiles told The Post in an interview last year that she doesn’t view her role as being a gatekeeper — a core historical function of chiefs of staff — and that she wants Trump to have access to many people.
“I want him to have more inputs, not less, more information, not less, more people talking to him, not fewer. So I don’t really think that’s gatekeeping, per se. That’s the way he works best, and that’s what he wants,” she said.
“I view my responsibility as making sure he gets unvarnished information and complete truth. And however many people it takes to get there, and whoever they are — of course, within reason.”
