White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has ignited a significant political controversy following an explosive interview where she made scathing remarks about several high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Vice President JD Vance. The interview, given to Vanity Fair's Chris Whipple, is expected to create a major storm in US political circles.
Explosive Allegations Against Musk and Vance
In her candid conversation, Susie Wiles made several startling claims. She labelled Elon Musk an "avowed" ketamine user, suggesting his unusual behaviour stemmed from this. Wiles described the Tesla and SpaceX CEO as an "odd, odd duck," a trait she associated with geniuses. She specifically mentioned that Musk sleeps in a sleeping bag in the Executive Office Building during the daytime.
When questioned about a controversial post Musk shared on X (formerly Twitter) that blamed public sector workers for deaths under dictators like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, Wiles quipped, "I think that’s when he’s microdosing." However, she later clarified that she had no first-hand knowledge of any drug use by Musk.
Regarding Vice President JD Vance, Wiles did not hold back, calling him a "conspiracy theorist for a decade." She also criticized other Trump administration officials, labelling former Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought a "right-wing absolute zealot."
Criticism of Epstein Files Handling and White House Response
Susie Wiles also took aim at Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. According to the editor, Wiles told the magazine that Donald Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files, but not in connection with any awful activities. She characterized their association as that of "young, single playboys together," using a term she admitted was passé.
This comes after Trump signed legislation in November directing the Justice Department to release documents pertaining to the Epstein case.
The White House moved swiftly to control the fallout from the interview. On Tuesday, Wiles herself attempted to downplay the published remarks, stating in a social media post that "significant context was disregarded" and calling the article "a disingenuously framed hit piece."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed strong support for Wiles, asserting that Trump "has no greater or more loyal advisor than Susie." Leavitt added on X, "The entire Administration is grateful for her steady leadership and united fully behind her."
Potential Political Fallout and Implications
The revelations from the Vanity Fair interview are poised to create significant ripples within the Republican party and the broader US political landscape. The direct criticism of the Vice President and a key ally like Elon Musk from a top White House official is highly unusual and indicates potential internal tensions.
The comments about drug use, conspiracy theories, and the handling of sensitive legal files like the Epstein documents are likely to be seized upon by political opponents. The rapid response from the White House communications team underscores the seriousness with which they view the potential damage from Wiles' candid assessment of her colleagues.
As the story develops, all eyes will be on the reactions from JD Vance, Elon Musk, and the other officials named, which could further escalate this brewing political storm.
