President Donald Trump came to the defense of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles on Tuesday, praising her in an exclusive interview and dismissing criticism over her comments to Vanity Fair.
According to the New York Post, Wiles had described Trump as having an “alcoholic’s personality,” a remark the president said he fully understood and did not take offense to.
“No, she meant that I’m — you see, I don’t drink alcohol. So everybody knows that — but I’ve often said that if I did, I’d have a very good chance of being an alcoholic. I have said that many times about myself, I do. It’s a very possessive personality,” Trump said, emphasizing that he avoids alcohol.
“I’ve said that many times about myself. I’m fortunate I’m not a drinker. If I did, I could very well, because I’ve said it — possessive and addictive type personality. Oh, I’ve said it many times, many times before.”
Trump reiterated his full confidence in Wiles, calling her “fantastic” and praising her work despite the controversy. “I didn’t read it, but I don’t read Vanity Fair — but she’s done a fantastic job,” he said. “I think from what I hear, the facts were wrong, and it was a very misguided interviewer, purposely misguided.”
Wiles had explained in the Vanity Fair interview, “High-functioning alcoholics or alcoholics in general, their personalities are exaggerated when they drink. And so I’m a little bit of an expert in big personalities.” Trump echoed her point, saying the magazine’s author, Chris Whipple, may have misled Wiles during their reporting.
“Yeah, deceived — and he didn’t have great access, a couple of very short interviews. And Susie generally doesn’t do interviews,” Trump said. He also criticized Vanity Fair, claiming the publication “is totally — it’s lost its way. It’s also lost its readers, as you know.”
Throughout the interview, Trump repeatedly underscored Wiles’ value to his team and expressed confidence in her continuing to excel in her role as chief of staff, brushing off the article as a misrepresentation of both her and his personality.
