In a striking irony, an email from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles warning staff against leaking to the press was itself leaked to the media. The email, obtained by Politico, was sent in March and contained strict instructions that no staff member in the Executive Office of the President is permitted to speak with journalists without explicit approval from the White House Communications Office. It further warned that unauthorized leaks would not be tolerated and could result in sanctions up to and including termination.
Wiles, whom President Trump has described as an 'ice maiden,' emphasized that violations could cause significant disruption to ongoing operations and potentially endanger missions of national significance. The email came amid mounting frustration within the West Wing over staffers bypassing official channels to share unauthorized details of internal tensions with reporters.
For instance, in April, the White House complained about leaked details concerning a downed U.S. military aircraft in Iran. A source told Politico that Wiles was 'generally very frustrated with leaks.'
Wiles has also pushed for tighter discipline across the executive branch, advising Cabinet officials last month to avoid nonessential international travel ahead of the midterm elections. White House spokesperson Liz Huzton stated that hundreds of staffers are held to strict policies, including a zero-tolerance policy against speaking to the media without authorization, to ensure the president's message is communicated clearly.
Wiles herself raised eyebrows in December for remarks to Vanity Fair, where she described Trump as having an 'alcoholic's personality' and labeled Vice President JD Vance a 'conspiracy theorist.' At the Independent Women's 19th Awards Gala on Thursday, she appeared to allude to those interviews, accusing Vanity Fair of framing them as a 'hit piece.' When asked about her communication with the press, Wiles said she exercises caution and maintains friendships with a few reporters.
