White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Says Breast Cancer Gave Her 'Deeper Appreciation' for Life
WASHINGTON — White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles says her recent battle with breast cancer gave her a 'deeper appreciation' for her purpose in life, writing in a newly published essay that the experience tested her while she remained one of President Donald Trump's most trusted advisers.
In an exclusive essay for USA TODAY, Wiles described navigating cancer treatment during a turbulent period in Trump's second term. She was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in mid-March and said on Sept. 16 that doctors declared her cancer-free after six months of treatment. The essay was published Sept. 27.
Wiles, a longtime Trump aide and co-campaign manager of his 2024 presidential campaign, was later promoted to chief of staff. The job is among the most demanding in Washington, putting her at the center of White House operations, policy coordination and access to the president. Her decision to speak publicly about her diagnosis offered a rare personal glimpse from a famously private political operative.
She wrote that balancing work and treatment was not easy. 'There were days when strength just meant fighting the disease with all I had,' Wiles said. Her White House duties, she added, helped carry her through difficult periods of her cancer journey. 'It reminded me that I was still myself – and that my life was about more than my disease,' she wrote.
After her diagnosis, Wiles cited American Cancer Society statistics showing that nearly one in eight women in the United States will face a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. She said those women continue to raise families, go to work and serve their communities with strength and determination. 'I now join their ranks,' she said at the time.
Wiles has deep roots in Republican politics. She worked on Trump's campaigns beginning in 2015, served as co-campaign manager for his 2024 run and previously worked as a scheduler for Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign under James Baker. She also worked under Vice President Dan Quayle during George H.W. Bush's administration and led several other campaigns, including Ron DeSantis' 2018 bid for Florida governor.
In the opinion piece, Wiles reflected on continuing in one of the 'most demanding jobs imaginable' while dealing with the mental and physical challenges of fighting the illness. She thanked her family, medical team, White House staff and the president for supporting her. 'I will always be grateful to President Donald Trump for the kindness and compassion while I was undergoing treatment,' Wiles wrote.
Calling chemotherapy 'a b----,' Wiles said she had 'come through the hardest part' of her cancer journey. 'The next stage will require a serious commitment to rebuilding what treatment took from me,' she said.
Her disclosure comes as breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers among U.S. women and as public figures increasingly use personal health stories to encourage screenings and support for patients and survivors. For Wiles, the essay also served as a statement of resilience: she is returning to a central role in Trump's White House while confronting the long-term effects of treatment.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Susie Wiles says breast cancer gave her 'deeper appreciation' for life