Susie Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer but plans to continue working while undergoing treatment. The 68-year-old revealed on Monday that the illness had been detected in the past week, with both she and Donald Trump striking an optimistic tone about her recovery.
“Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis,” Wiles said in a statement. “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.” Trump, writing on Truth Social, described his aide as “one of the strongest people I know” and said her prognosis was “excellent”.
Within 20 minutes of Trump’s post, Wiles was sitting alongside the president at a meeting of the Kennedy Center board of trustees. Wearing a pink jacket, she received embraces from several attendees. Trump told the gathering that she had begun treatment for a “minor difficulty” and would overcome it, adding: “The prognosis there is excellent, beyond excellent.”
Wiles is a polarising figure in Washington, praised by Republicans for bringing discipline to the White House and criticised by Democrats as an enabler of Trump’s worst impulses. She has been one of Trump’s most trusted political advisers for nearly a decade, managing his 2016 campaign in Florida and his 2024 comeback campaign.
Medical experts note that early detection significantly improves outcomes for breast cancer patients. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 300,000 women in the US will be diagnosed with the disease this year. Wiles said she was “deeply thankful” for the president’s support as she undergoes treatment and continues in her role.
