White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has early-stage breast cancer and is seeking treatment, but she will remain in her role, President Donald Trump announced on March 16.
“Unfortunately, she has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, and has decided to take on this challenge, IMMEDIATELY, as opposed to waiting,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“She has a fantastic medical team, and her prognosis is excellent! During the treatment period, she will be spending virtually full time at the White House, which makes me, as President, very happy!”
Trump said Wiles is one of his “closest and most important advisors” and is “tough and deeply committed to serving the American People.”
“She will soon be better than ever!” he wrote. “[First Lady] Melania [Trump] and I are with her in every way, and we look forward to working with Susie on the many big and wonderful things that are happening for the benefit of our Country!”
Wiles, 68, told The New York Times in an interview that the disease was caught in its early stages.
“I am grateful to have an outstanding team of doctors who detected the cancer early and are guiding my care, and I am encouraged by a strong prognosis,” she told the outlet, noting that her prognosis is “strong.”
The president, she said, has “an effective team around him,” which will ensure that there will be no disruptions while she is being treated.
Other details about her prognosis were not provided by Trump or by Wiles. Neither Wiles nor Trump elaborated on what stage her cancer is in, and Wiles did not say what type of treatment she would be receiving.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is among the most common forms of the disease and the second-most common form of cancer among women in the United States. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the country, with only lung cancer being more deadly.
According to the Mayo Clinic and other health professionals, an earlier diagnosis makes it more likely that the cancer can be cured, and there are also medical treatments that can be applied to extend a person’s life if the cancer is untreatable.
Aging is a major risk factor for the disease. Most breast cancer diagnoses are made for women older than age 50, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other factors include having a family history of the disease, undergoing previous radiation therapy treatment, starting menopause after age 55, not being physically active, being overweight or obese after menopause, consuming alcohol, and more.
The daughter of NFL star and legendary sports broadcaster Pat Summerall, Wiles was named as Trump’s chief of staff for his second term. She also served as Trump’s co-campaign manager for his successful 2024 presidential bid.
Starting in the 1970s, Wiles worked in the Washington office of Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.). Following that were stints on Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign and in his White House as a scheduler.
Decades later, she worked to get Ron DeSantis elected as Florida’s governor in 2018. Wiles ultimately went on to lead Trump’s primary campaign against DeSantis.
Trump often referenced Wiles on the 2025 campaign trail, publicly praising her leadership of what he said he was often told was his “best-run campaign.”
A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
