White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said she has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and plans to continue working through treatment, according to an Associated Press report.
Wiles, 68, announced on Monday that her diagnosis came over the previous week. The report said she gave no indication she would pull back from her work as she undergoes treatment, describing her role as one of President Donald Trump’s closest aides.
In remarks included in the report, Wiles said, “Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis.” She added, “Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work, and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks.” The report said Wiles is the first woman to hold her position.
Trump also addressed Wiles’ condition in a social media post, calling her “one of the strongest people I know” and saying her prognosis is “excellent.” In remarks on his Truth Social platform, the report said Trump stated that Wiles would begin treatment immediately.
Trump said, “During the treatment period, she will be spending virtually full time at the White House, which makes me, as President, very happy!” He added, “She will soon be better than ever!”
The report said Wiles was at a meeting of the Kennedy Center board of trustees shortly after Trump’s announcement. It said that within 20 minutes of Trump’s post, Wiles was sitting alongside the president, and that Trump, in opening remarks, said she had already begun treatment and described her diagnosis as a “minor difficulty” that she would overcome.
In the Monday post, the report said Trump reiterated that Wiles is “tough and deeply committed to serving the American People.” Trump also said, “Melania 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,” referring to first lady Melania Trump.
The AP report framed Wiles’ disclosure as part of a period of broader pressure on the Trump administration, citing challenges on global and national fronts including the war in Iran and soaring oil prices, along with this fall’s midterm elections and Americans’ concerns over affordability.
The report also described Wiles as a longtime ally who rose from campaign co-chair to closest adviser and counsel, and said she led Trump’s 2016 Florida effort. It said she mostly avoids the spotlight but drew attention in December with a Vanity Fair interview that included critical remarks about Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi, and that Trump later described the interview as a “hit piece” and said Wiles was “fantastic.”
The report added medical context, saying that more than 300,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. It said treatment varies depending on how early the cancer is caught and usually involves either removing the tumor followed by radiation, or removing the breast, which is called a mastectomy, with stage, subtype and genetic makeup helping determine whether additional treatment or therapy to help prevent recurrence is needed.
AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to the report.