White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 68, announced her diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer on 16/3. "Last week, I was diagnosed with breast cancer", Wiles stated. "Nearly one in eight women in the US will face this disease. Every day, these women raise children, go to work, and serve their communities with courage and resilience. Now, I am one of them".
President Donald Trump confirmed that Wiles would remain in her position during her treatment. While her specific treatment plan is not yet known, Trump expressed confidence in her medical team and a positive prognosis. He posted on Truth Social that Wiles would work "almost full-time" at the White House, a prospect he welcomed.
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Susie Wiles disembarks from a plane in Londonderry, New Hampshire, 10/2025. Photo: Washington Post
At an event at the Kennedy Center on the same day, Trump appeared alongside Wiles, commending her as "an extraordinary person, a fighter". He added, "She will be here for a long time. The prognosis is, I would say, better than very good".
Wiles holds the distinction of being the first female White House Chief of Staff, a position she secured with what is described as President Trump's "unconditional" support.
Her political career began in 1979 as an assistant to Republican Congressman Jack Kemp. A year later, she joined the campaign that led to Ronald Reagan becoming the 40th US president. Wiles's career peaked in 2010 when she helped Rick Scott, a businessman with limited political experience, win the Florida gubernatorial election.
In 2016, she served as co-chair of Trump's presidential campaign in Florida. Two years later, in 2018, she played a pivotal role in helping Ron DeSantis, then a lesser-known congressman, successfully turn around his gubernatorial campaign.
In the 2024 election, Wiles was credited as a primary architect of Trump's successful return to the White House. Trump lauded her extensively, affectionately referring to her as "the ice lady" and mentioning her name seven times during his victory speech.
Providing broader context, the US National Cancer Center reported that over 300,000 women in the country were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, representing more than 15% of all recorded cancer cases. The center also highlighted that the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer patients currently exceeds 91%.
Duc Trung (According to CBS News, ABC News, AP)
