In a recent profile by Vanity Fair, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles suggested that the administration's accusations against New York Attorney General Letitia James could be seen as a form of retribution. Wiles stated that when President Donald Trump has the chance to take retribution, he is likely to seize it. This two-part profile, published on Tuesday, is based on an extensive series of 11 interviews conducted over the past year with Wiles, who is known for rarely granting public interviews and maintaining a low profile. The article offers a unique insight into the perspective of one of the most influential figures in the White House.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Wiles, asserting that she has played a pivotal role in helping President Trump achieve what she described as the most successful first 11 months of any presidency in American history. Leavitt emphasized that Wiles is one of Trump's most loyal advisors, stating, "The entire Administration is grateful for her steady leadership and united fully behind her."
In response to the Vanity Fair article, Wiles took to X to express her discontent, labeling the reporting as a "disingenuously framed hit piece" targeting her, the President, and the White House staff. Wiles noted that significant context was omitted from the narrative, which she believes was crafted to portray an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative view of the administration.
Despite not having read the Vanity Fair article, President Trump expressed confidence in Wiles' performance, stating she has "done a fantastic job." He remarked, "I think from what I hear, the facts were wrong, and it was a very misguided interviewer, purposely misguided." The Justice Department, when contacted for comment, referred to Wiles' statement and the White House's defense.
During an interview with Vanity Fair, Wiles was asked if she had ever advised Trump against pursuing a "retribution tour," referring to the administration's actions against those the President views as adversaries. Wiles confirmed, "Yes, I do. We have a loose agreement that the score settling will end before the first 90 days are over." However, when questioned about the end of this so-called retribution tour, she stated, "I don't think he's on a retribution tour." She added that a governing principle for Trump is to prevent others from suffering what he has endured, suggesting that efforts to remove wrongdoers from government might sometimes appear vindictive.
The Trump administration has pursued legal actions against both Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, both of whom have been critical of Trump. Comey was involved in investigating potential ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, while James has secured a significant civil fraud judgment against Trump and his family business, which was overturned on appeal last summer. Recently, a federal judge dismissed indictments against both James and Comey, citing unlawful appointment of the prosecutor involved.
Though prosecutors may attempt to re-indict James, reports indicate that there should be "no premature celebrations" regarding the outcomes of these cases. The Justice Department has remained tight-lipped about grand jury proceedings.
Prior to the legal actions against James and Comey, Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute them along with Senator Adam Schiff, labeling them as "guilty as hell." Critics have consistently accused Trump of targeting political opponents.
Addressing the accusation of mortgage fraud against James, Wiles remarked to Vanity Fair, "Well, that might be the one retribution." When pressed about challenging Trump regarding James, she laughed and said, "No, no, not on her. She had a half a billion dollars of his money!" Regarding the prosecution of Comey, Wiles admitted, "I mean, people could think it does look vindictive. I can’t tell you why you shouldn’t think that." She concluded by noting that while Trump does not wake up fixated on retribution, he will take action when opportunities arise.
In a statement to NBC News, Letitia James' attorney Abbe Lowell asserted that Wiles’ comments confirm that President Trump has used the Justice Department as a tool for political retribution against James. He emphasized that the pursuit of charges against her exemplifies Trump’s political crusade, stating, "When they admit it’s not justice they’re after but pure revenge, believe them."