Trump says ‘zero chance’ he’s replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles

By Kit Maher, CNN

(CNN) — President Donald Trump said Friday there is “zero chance” he’s considering replacing White House chief of staff Susie Wiles after reports that suggested as much.

“The Susie Wiles story was a fake story,” Trump told CNN’s Kristen Holmes in reference to Politico reporting earlier this week about the president surveying allies about Wiles and musing about potential replacements.

“She’s been incredible,” Trump said of Wiles. “She’s smart and tough; she just went through a lot with the cancer surgery,” he added, referring to her breast cancer diagnosis. Wiles recently announced she is cancer free.

“Susie is here and she’s gonna be here for a long time,” Trump added.

The president said the White House told Politico that its reporting about Wiles was incorrect before publication. “Susie Wiles is my loyal and longest serving Chief of Staff — there is a reason for that,” he said in a statement to Politico, adding that she “has my COMPLETE confidence.”

“The only one that matters is me because I’m the one that makes the decision,” Trump told reporters on Friday.

Wiles told Trump she had early stage breast cancer in March, and he urged her to start treatment immediately and take as much time away from the White House as she needed. But Wiles made clear she wasn’t going anywhere, insisting on continuing to serve as Trump’s top aide while undergoing treatment.

In announcing last month that she was cancer free, Wiles thanked the president and nodded to her continued service.

“A special thank you to President Trump for his unwavering support. I am deeply grateful and will continue to work to advance his America First Agenda,” she wrote on X.

A mainstay in Trump’s orbit for the past several years, Wiles helped steer his successful 2024 campaign before joining the White House as chief of staff. That appointment made her the first woman to hold the job.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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