Washington: The White House chief of staff expressed regret over the decision to allow cameras during a contentious Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as reported in a recent magazine article.
According to Anadolu Agency, Susie Wiles, the chief of staff, told Vanity Fair that if given a chance to reconsider, she would have opted against having cameras present, acknowledging the tension-filled nature of the meeting. The encounter, which took place in February, saw Trump and Vice President JD Vance openly criticizing Zelenskyy.
Wiles attributed the tense atmosphere to what she described as "churlish" behavior from Zelenskyy and his team. This reportedly began when Zelenskyy did not attend a meeting in Kyiv with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss a mineral rights agreement. Wiles noted that while Vance did not "snap," his patience was tested by the situation.
The magazine article, drawing from over ten interviews conducted throughout the year, also shed light on internal disagreements within Trump's team regarding Russia-Ukraine policy. There was division on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed for complete control over Ukraine or would settle for partial territorial gains. Wiles mentioned that some experts believed Putin would be content with acquiring the rest of the Donetsk region, but Trump was skeptical of Putin's willingness to compromise.
Reflecting on Trump's past interactions with Putin, Wiles recalled their 2018 meeting in Helsinki, during Trump's first term. She observed a sense of friendship or admiration between the two leaders, though she noted that recent communications had shown mixed signals.
After the article's release, Wiles took to social media platform X to criticize it, labeling it as a "disingenuously framed hit piece" that overlooked important context and omitted positive remarks about Trump and his team. She emphasized her long-standing dedication to working with Trump.
In defense of Wiles, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump holds no advisor in higher regard than Susie Wiles. Leavitt affirmed the administration's gratitude for Wiles' leadership and expressed full support for her.