President Donald Trump forcefully defended his Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Friday, denouncing a political report about her as 'fake news' and insisting she will remain in her position for the long term.
Speaking to reporters, Trump addressed the story directly, saying, 'The Susie Wiles story was a fake story. She has been incredible... They made up Fake News, they released it knowing it was a fake story.'
Trump emphasized that Wiles, who has served as his chief of staff through the first two years of his presidency, has his full confidence. 'Susie is here — and she's gonna be here for a long time,' he said.
A Personal Battle
The president also noted Wiles' recent health challenges, telling reporters, 'She just went through a lot with the cancer surgery and the whole thing. And she recovered, fully recovered. She's phenomenal.'
Trump made clear that he alone decides who serves in his administration, saying, 'We told that to Politico. We said, the story is totally wrong. And the only one that matters is me, because I'm the one that makes the decision.'
He reiterated, 'So they made up fake news. They released it knowing it was a fake story.'
Successful First Two Years
Trump praised Wiles' performance, linking her leadership to what he called 'maybe the most successful first two years, and it's not even two years, in the history of the presidency.'
He said Wiles 'has been my chief of staff. She's smart. She's tough.'
The president's remarks came as he dismissed the unnamed story as a fabrication, reasserting his trust in one of his most senior aides.
