Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has described the president as having an “alcoholic’s personality” in a new interview with Vanity Fair, despite Trump being a lifelong teetotaller. Wiles said Trump “operates with a view that there’s nothing he can’t do. Nothing, zero, nothing,” comparing his traits to those of high-functioning alcoholics she witnessed growing up with her father, former NFL star Pat Summerall, who struggled with alcoholism.
Wiles, whose father died sober in 2013 after 21 years without drink, told the magazine: “Alcoholism does bad things to relationships, and so it was with my dad and me.” She later criticised the article as a “disingenuously framed hit piece”. Trump himself confirmed the description to the New York Post, saying he has an “addictive type personality” and is fortunate he does not drink. His older brother Fred Trump died from alcoholism in 1981.
Wiles first met Trump in 2015, and he was reportedly “incredulous” to meet Pat Summerall’s daughter. Their relationship was tested in 2016 when Trump berated her over Florida polling, leading to an ultimatum from Wiles: “If you want to win this state, I am.” Trump called her daily thereafter, and she helped deliver Florida’s crucial 29 electoral votes. After a stint with Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump rehired her for his 2020 re-election campaign.
