Trump's chief of staff confirms he is in Epstein files
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles confirmed in an interview that President Donald Trump is named in records related to Jeffrey Epstein, directly contradicting Trump's previous denials. Wiles described their past association and criticized the handling of the documents, sparking a swift rebuke from Democratic officials.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has publicly acknowledged that President Donald Trump is listed in documents associated with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This confirmation, made in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine published Tuesday, contradicts Trump's repeated assertions that the Epstein records are a "hoax," injecting new controversy into the long-running issue.
Specific claims about trump's past association
Wiles stated plainly, "We know he's in the file," adding that Trump "was on [Epstein's] plane, ... he's on the manifest." She characterized their historical relationship, saying the two were "sort of young, single playboys together." The chief of staff also took aim at Attorney General Pam Bondi's management of the sensitive records, asserting, "There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn't on her desk."
Political fallout and internal criticisms
The remarks prompted an immediate political reaction. The Democratic National Committee's Rapid Response Director, Kendall Witmer, issued a statement accusing Trump of misleading the public and declared that "even Donald Trump’s chief of staff can’t shield him from his Epstein nightmare." Beyond the Epstein files, Wiles' wide-ranging interview included pointed critiques of Trump's own behavior and key allies. She described the president as having an "alcoholic’s personality" and said he used the office for "score settling."
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Portrait of a divided white house
Wiles also offered blunt assessments of other prominent figures in Trump's orbit, labeling Vice President JD Vance a "conspiracy theorist," Budget Director Russell Vought a "right-wing absolute zealot," and billionaire Elon Musk an "avowed ketamine" user. She admitted that the economic impact of Trump's tariff policies had been "more painful than I expected." Despite these critical comments, Trump praised Wiles last week, calling her "the great chief of staff." The episode underscores internal tensions and the ongoing political vulnerability surrounding the Epstein case for the administration.
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