Trump Gives Wiles an Additional Role, Further Squashing Rumors He Wants Her Gone

Three days after responding to reports that he’d discussed replacing the White House chief of staff by telling reporters there was “zero chance” of that, President Donald Trump tasked Susie Wiles with leading a new initiative.

Trump praised Wiles as “tough” in his remarks at a Rose Garden event to sign an executive order to launch a task force focused on women’s health. Trump mentioned her recent cancer diagnosis after initially expressing hesitation about whether she would want him to publicly discuss it.

“Susie recently won her battle against a very tough opponent, breast cancer,” he said. “It wasn’t easy. We went through it. We got her through it, and she got through it, and she’s tough.”

Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, announced on Sept. 16 that she was cancer-free, roughly six months after saying she’d been diagnosed. The task force is scheduled to hold its first working session Monday afternoon, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

On Monday, Trump called Wiles “a tremendous fighter” who, “much like our first lady, cares deeply about improving the health of American women.” He handed the chief of staff one of the pens after he signed the executive order.

The executive order directs the National Institutes of Health to establish a Women’s Health Division within 90 days, saying that diseases and conditions that “disproportionately or uniquely affect women have not received the level of research, clinical attention, and treatment.” It will prioritize research on cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, chronic pain, reproductive health and menopause, calling for care tailored across “all phases” of life. The order formally revokes a 2023 memorandum and a 2024 executive order behind former first lady Jill Biden’s women’s health research initiative.

The initiative announced Monday was spearheaded by first lady Melania Trump, and Wiles will co-chair the task force with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The appointment caps a week in which Wiles’ standing in the administration was the subject of open speculation. Politico reported Thursday that Trump had been soliciting allies’ views of Wiles and floating possible replacements, among them deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Trump said Friday outside the White House that “the Susie Wiles story was a fake story.”

“Susie is here, and she’s gonna be here for a long time,” he told reporters. He credited the administration’s second term successes in part to Wiles’ role.

The speculation surrounding Wiles came during a turbulent week for women in Trump’s orbit. Katie Zacharia was forced out as press secretary Friday after five days, the shortest tenure in the job’s history. Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as Greece ambassador at the White House’s request, news Zacharia herself delivered during her first — and only — briefing.

It was the Wiles rumors, more than anything else last week, that stirred the president, a source familiar with his reaction told The Washington Sun. That source said Trump told aides he would not stay in the job without her.

Wiles’ allies argue the week left her stronger. One source close to the president and supportive of Wiles said the episode “shows that White House system works” and “weakens those fighting against her.” Another Wiles confidant added that “they picked the wrong fight.”