Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Prairie Gates

(7,572 posts)
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:22 PM Friday

Is Susie Wiles the Most Incompetent WH Chief of Staff in modern history?

There's a bizarre consensus among the establishment press that goes something like this: Susie Wiles, Trump's second term Chief of Staff, is a serious and competent person who runs a tight ship; she's the traditional conservative face of the MAGA movement, well respected across Washington, etc. etc. The plaudits go on. The New York Times features glowing nonsense about her every few months. It's like an article of faith among the press that she's doing a bang up job.

Trump's latest insanity - reposting an amateur-hour MAGA video that depicts President Obama and First Lady Michele Obama as apes - points to the obvious counternarrative: in all aspects of a Chief of Staff's job, Susie Wiles has been singularly incompetent.

She has zero control over Trump, obviously, and no seeming ability to keep him on track or prevent him from his weekly rake-stepping activities.

She has zero control over Stephen Miller or Steven Cheung, both of whom should be walking around in terror of her. Some might say, no, they're doing what they do at her instruction, but that's unlikely and would spell even more incompetence if true.

She managed to shepherd through one piece of signature legislation with majorities in both chambers, but there's nothing on the horizon, and she has the longest shutdown in history on her resume as well. If polls are to be believed, her party may even have to spend to defend a Texas Senate seat. The Congressional operation out of 1600 seems nonexistent.

So, what does Susie Wiles actually DO?

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

sop

(17,958 posts)
3. Wiles is a Washington political insider, she does Washington political insider things, like leaking juicy gossip
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:37 PM
Friday

to the DC Press, so they'll build up her reputation as a savvy political insider.

GusBob

(8,190 posts)
13. On the contrary
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:38 PM
Friday

See post 8. When she came onboard, it is reported, she told Trump: I alone get to control access to you or I dont take the position.

She is keeping anyone who isnt onboard with Project 2025 away from him, and doing a good job of it

Hence the BS glowing media profiles

Prairie Gates

(7,572 posts)
17. The admin faceplants over and over and over again
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 04:17 PM
Friday

If she was competent, they would be in complete control right now with no pushback at all.

She is completely unable to keep Project 2025 on track at this point.

haele

(15,207 posts)
14. I hate to sound trite, but Ms. Wiles is there as his mommy figure.
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:40 PM
Friday

She's there to calm him down and gatekeep his interactions with others, ensuring he is in the right mood to be able to receive visitors, and is properly prepped for any news they might be bringing. Her administrative duties are pretty much deciding what business paperwork goes to him and what can doled out to the proxies; while she might have some power, she doesn't appear to have the normal responsibilities a Chief of Staff typically exercises.
Seriously, she appears to act more as a 1950's/1960's executive secretary with some administrative signature power.
On edit - she's not there to be his Chief of Staff, so it's rather difficult to say she's incompetent. Especially, since that isn't what she's there to be. She just was given the title as a reason to have her there.

newdeal2

(5,054 posts)
5. There were more "normal" people in the first admin
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 01:49 PM
Friday

Shocking I know. But there were some people who told him no back then. There were also some Senators who stood up to him on rare occasions. Even Ivanka tempered him a bit.

None of that exists this time around.

poli-junkie

(1,507 posts)
12. Doesn't she take orders from Putin?
Fri Feb 6, 2026, 02:37 PM
Friday

Isn’t she just making sure Putin’s plans for the destruction of western democracy happen?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Is Susie Wiles the Most I...