Politico says Trump weighs replacing Wiles, though her exit looks unlikely this year

Traders have sharply increased their expectations that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles will leave the Trump administration before 2027, though her departure remains unlikely. The shift followed a Politico Playbook report on Thursday, citing four people with direct knowledge, that President Donald Trump had asked allies what they thought of Wiles and discussed possible replacements. Trump publicly denied the account and said Wiles had his “complete confidence.” No departure decision or announcement has been reported.

Bets on Wiles leaving stood near their earlier level through Wednesday, then jumped after the report and eased from their peak. They have risen further today, leaving the prospect more plausible than before but still far from the expected outcome. The move followed smaller swings earlier in October, including a brief rise around October 5 that faded. No specific cause has been reported for those earlier fluctuations.

The reported tension came after Trump selected Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary on October 9. Reports around Zacharia’s October 13 debut said the appointment surprised or frustrated Wiles, though Zacharia said she knew about the decision and supported it. The Politico Playbook account added a more direct question about Wiles’ standing, while Trump’s public denial points the other way. Wiles was still publicly identified as chief of staff in October coverage; a White House report to Congress listed her in the role on July 1.

Politico’s report placed the conversations ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. A reported decision to remove or replace Wiles, or an official announcement that she is leaving, would directly bear on whether she departs before 2027. Continued public support or no change in her role would point the other way. Other senior Trump officials, including Kash Patel and Pete Hegseth, are also viewed as unlikely to leave before year-end.