In March, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles sent an email to Trump staff, instructing them in no uncertain terms to stop leaking to the press. That memo didn’t stay private for long.
The email, obtained by Politico, stated that “no staff member within the Executive Office of the President is permitted to speak with members of the news media without the explicit approval of the White House Communications Office.”
It also warned that “unauthorized leaks will not be tolerated and are subject to sanction up to and including termination.”
Wiles, who the president has described as an “ice maiden”, added: “Violation of this policy can result in significant disruption to ongoing operations and can potentially endanger missions and activities of national significance.”
The email followed mounting exasperation inside the West Wing over staffers sidestepping official channels and sharing unauthorized details of internal tensions with the press. In April, for instance, the White House griped about how details related to a downed U.S. military aircraft in Iran were leaked to the press.
“She was generally very frustrated with leaks,” a source told Politico.
Wiles has also pushed for tighter discipline within the executive branch, advising Cabinet officials last month to avoid nonessential international trips in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
“There are hundreds of White House staffers faithfully serving the American people, all of whom are held to strict policies – including a zero-tolerance policy against speaking to the media without explicit authorization from the Communications Office – to ensure the President’s message is communicated clearly, accurately, and directly to the American people,” White House spokesperson Liz Huzton told Politico in a statement.
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Wiles herself raised eyebrows in December for remarks she made to Vanity Fair about Trump and other Cabinet officials. She described the president as having an “alcoholic’s personality” and labeled Vice President JD Vance a “conspiracy theorist.”
On Thursday, while speaking at the Independent Women’s 19th Awards Gala, the White House Chief of Staff appeared to allude to her bombshell interviews, which she accused Vanity Fair of framing as a “hit piece.”
When asked about her communication with the press, Wiles said she exercises a great deal of caution. “I have a couple of friends in the reporter ranks, but we keep it to friendship,” she said.
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