WASHINGTON — White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles announced Monday she has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and will continue serving while undergoing treatment. President Donald Trump praised Wiles as an amazing fighter with an excellent prognosis. Sources confirming this story include BBC News, CBS News, Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times, and Washington Post. Each of the bullet points immediately below have been confirmed by at least four of the six respected sources we curated on this story.
- Susie Wiles, 68, was diagnosed with breast cancer this past week and publicly announced the diagnosis on Monday, March 16, 2026
- Wiles will continue serving as White House chief of staff while undergoing treatment, working virtually full time at the White House
- President Trump praised Wiles on Truth Social, calling her an amazing fighter with fantastic medical team and excellent prognosis
- Wiles is the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff in U.S. history
- Doctors detected the cancer early and Wiles has described her prognosis as strong
- Wiles appeared alongside President Trump at a Kennedy Center event on Monday shortly after announcing her diagnosis
- Wiles played a key role in Trump’s political comeback and served as co-chair of his 2024 campaign
- According to the National Cancer Institute, over 300,000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, with a five-year survival rate exceeding 91%
Additional Details Reported
Wiles released a statement Monday acknowledging her diagnosis, saying 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.
Trump’s Public Support
At the Kennedy Center event Monday, Trump publicly expressed his support for Wiles while discussing plans to reshape the performing arts venue. He’s an amazing person and an amazing fighter, and she announced a minor difficulty which will be in good shape, Trump said, patting her on the shoulder. She’ll be around for a long time. The prognosis there is excellent, beyond excellent.
White House Reaction
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on social media that Wiles epitomizes what it means to be a strong leader. She is also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Leavitt added, I know I speak for the President and the entire White House when I say that we are all praying for Susie and rallying behind her as she prepares to fight this battle against breast cancer.
Wiles’ Political Career
A longtime political operative, Wiles is widely viewed as the most critical and influential of Trump’s aides. She is the daughter of the late NFL kicker and sportscaster Pat Summerall. After graduating from the University of Maryland, she worked for Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign before building a career in Florida politics. She helped Sen. Rick Scott win his 2018 election and later served as chief strategist for Trump’s Florida campaign.
After a falling out with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Wiles returned to run Trump’s Florida campaign in 2020. Following the 2020 election, she ran the Save America PAC before joining the 2024 campaign as co-campaign manager. Trump has credited her with helping him win both the 2016 and 2024 elections.
Context on Breast Cancer
Breast cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women in the United States. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 316,000 new cases of female breast cancer were diagnosed in 2025. The five-year survival rate exceeds 91% when detected early, underscoring the importance of regular screening and early detection.
Image Attribution
Artificial Intelligence generated image / EOBS.biz
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