White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer but plans to continue working through her treatment, retaining her place as one of President Donald Trump's closest aides. Wiles, 68, announced on Monday that she had been diagnosed over the previous week.
In her statement, Wiles said "This past week, I was diagnosed with breast cancer." She noted "Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis. 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." She told the Times that she is "grateful to have an outstanding team of doctors who detected the cancer early" and that she is "encouraged by a strong prognosis."
President Donald Trump first announced Wiles' diagnosis in a Truth Social post, saying that she would begin treatment immediately and would remain in her role. Trump said that Wiles had been diagnosed with "early stage breast cancer," adding that she "has decided to take on this challenge, IMMEDIATELY, as opposed to waiting." He called her "a great person, and one of the strongest people I know." Trump also said "She has a fantastic medical team, and her prognosis is excellent!"
Within 20 minutes of Trump's post, Wiles was sitting alongside the president at a meeting of the Kennedy Center board of trustees. Wiles is the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. Wiles, 68, has been a constant presence at Trump's side since he returned to office in January 2025. Republicans have credited her with bringing greater discipline to the White House during Trump's second term while allowing the president to operate largely on his own terms. Like many facing serious health challenges, political figures throughout history have balanced personal health journeys with public service—Rep. Neal Dunn showed similar determination after his own health diagnosis.