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    Trump Says Defendants Won’t Get A ‘Fair Shake’ From Letitia James. She’s Pushing Back.

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    President Donald Trump has a blunt warning about Letitia James’ role in a closely watched Cornell University sexual assault investigation: He doesn’t trust her to give the accused a fair hearing.

    The New York attorney general is pushing back, promising a fair investigation while defending the public comments that helped ignite the controversy.

    “Letitia James is a corrupt person,” Trump said when Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to appoint her as special prosecutor.

    “And I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake,” Trump added, according to Fox News.

    James’ response: Her office will follow the evidence.

    Speaking to a reporter Friday, October 16, she pledged a fair investigation. During a campaign debate, she also rejected claims that she had already made up her mind, saying “politics stops at the door” of her office, Fox News reported.

    The Post Behind The Fight

    Trump isn’t the only person questioning James’ impartiality.

    Lawyers for two men named in the underlying civil lawsuit — Gillio Lopes and Winston Lee — have sought her removal. Their objections focus on a social media message James published before receiving the special prosecutor assignment.

    “What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable,” James wrote September 28.

    “To her, and to all survivors: you’re not alone. We stand with you.”

    Defense attorneys argue that those words signal she accepted the allegations before conducting the investigation. James has characterized the message as an expression of “empathy,” according to Fox News.

    ABC News reported that Lopes’ attorney formally asked a court to overturn her appointment. Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, has rejected defense arguments challenging her account as self-serving. The accused men deny wrongdoing.

    Hochul Stands By Her Pick

    The case stems from allegations that a woman identified as Jane Doe was sexually assaulted by seven men at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.

    Local prosecutors initially declined to pursue charges. Cornell’s separate disciplinary investigation resulted in two expulsions and two suspensions, Fox News reported.

    Hochul appointed James on October 1 after raising concerns about the original investigation. Her executive order gives James authority to investigate and, if warranted, pursue criminal charges, superseding the local district attorney’s jurisdiction over the matter.

    The governor has stood by that decision, saying she has “every confidence” James will “look at the facts, examine the record and draw the proper conclusions,” according to Fox News.

    The dispute now reaches beyond Trump’s familiar feud with James: Defense attorneys are asking courts to determine whether her comments should disqualify her from overseeing the investigation.

    Trump Announces American’s Release From Russia After Personal Appeal To Putin

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    An American teacher held by Russia for more than four years is finally heading home — and President Donald Trump says Washington did not have to trade a prisoner to bring him back.

    Trump announced Wednesday morning that Stephen Hubbard, 74, had been released after the president personally raised his case with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation last week. Hubbard’s freedom coincided with special envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to St. Petersburg for talks with the Russian leader.

    “There was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, saying Hubbard was returning to the United States and would soon reunite with his family.

    “Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back,” the president added.

    The announcement marks another breakthrough in the administration’s efforts to bring detained Americans home. But other families are still waiting, and reporting before Hubbard’s release suggested Washington was pursuing a broader agreement.

    A Personal Appeal — And A Long-Awaited Breakthrough

    According to ABC News, Putin told Witkoff that Hubbard had been taken to St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport. Witkoff thanked the Russian president and conveyed Trump’s appreciation, according to a Kremlin account of their meeting.

    Trump had publicly signaled progress Tuesday, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he had pressed Putin to release Hubbard.

    “I’d love to get him back. It’s time. It’s time to have Mr. Hubbard back,” Trump said, according to ABC News.

    Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, was living in eastern Ukraine when Russian forces detained him in 2022. A Russian court sentenced him in 2024 to six years and 10 months in prison on accusations that he had fought as a mercenary for Ukraine. His family disputed that account, describing him as a pacifist.

    The United States formally designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained in January 2025, according to an August statement from U.S. senators.

    Other Americans Are Still Waiting

    Hubbard’s release follows negotiations that extended beyond his case.

    ABC News reported Tuesday, citing two U.S. officials and another source familiar with the discussions, that Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been leading talks aimed at freeing multiple Americans. Those sources cautioned that the arrangement’s scope could change before anything was finalized. Wednesday’s announcement confirmed Hubbard’s release; it did not establish that the other detainees covered by those discussions were also coming home.

    Americans identified in ABC’s Tuesday reporting as still detained included Gordon Black, Michael Leake, Robert Woodland, David Barnes and Eugene Spector. Families have urged the State Department to grant additional wrongful-detention designations and make their relatives’ cases a priority.

    For those families, every release brings renewed hope.

    After former Marine Robert Gilman was freed in August, Barnes’ sister, Carol Barnes, told ABC News: “I’m happy for them, but I want to be happy for all the Americans to come home.”

    Advocates have also raised concerns about serious health problems among Americans remaining in Russian custody.

    A Growing Record Of Releases

    Hubbard joins several Americans freed from Russian detention during Trump’s second administration.

    Teacher Marc Fogel returned home in February 2025 after more than three years in Russian custody. His release was secured through an exchange involving Russian cryptocurrency figure Alexander Vinnik, ABC News reported.

    Russian-American ballet dancer Ksenia Karelina followed in April 2025. She had received a 12-year treason sentence over a donation to a charity helping Ukraine. Her release came through a prisoner exchange involving German-Russian national Arthur Petrov, according to The Wall Street Journal.

    Gilman was released on humanitarian grounds on Aug. 11, 2026, amid severe concerns about his health. The State Department said his release involved neither a prisoner exchange nor other concessions — an earlier example of an American returning from Russia without a swap.

    Hubbard’s freedom gives another family the homecoming it has waited years to celebrate. For the Americans still behind bars, the administration’s next challenge is turning ongoing negotiations into more flights home.

    Trump Hints At Russia Breakthrough As Secretive Talks Near Finish Line

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump offered a brief hint Monday: His administration was trying to secure the release of someone held overseas whom the United States had sought to bring home for years.

    Now, a new report suggests the negotiations could bring back several Americans from Russia.

    The administration is nearing a deal with Moscow to release multiple detained U.S. citizens, ABC News reported, citing two U.S. officials and another source familiar with the matter.

    Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are leading the negotiations, which the sources described as being in their final stages.

    But a crucial question remains unanswered: What would Russia get in return?

    A Retired Teacher At The Center

    The discussions have focused on Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old retired teacher, as well as several other Americans imprisoned on charges the administration considers dubious, according to ABC News.

    Hubbard is the only American held in Russia officially designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department, the outlet reported. His sister has previously pleaded for his return.

    Trump did not name Hubbard when discussing the effort Monday.

    He said he was “trying to get a hostage that the country has been after for a long time,” apparently referring to the retired teacher, according to ABC News.

    “Let’s see what happens,” Trump added. “That’ll be soon.”

    Moscow Acknowledges Talks

    Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov confirmed Tuesday that discussions were continuing, while offering little about their substance.

    “Dialogue on all these issues is ongoing through intelligence service channels,” he said.

    Ryabkov called Hubbard’s name “certainly familiar,” but said he had “nothing to report.”

    The negotiations come as Trump faces scrutiny over recent Russia policy decisions, including his waiver of newly imposed sanctions targeting Russian officials and oligarchs.

    ABC News did not establish that those decisions were part of a prisoner-release agreement. The terms of any potential exchange remain unknown.

    Officials also warned that the deal is unfinished: It could collapse, or its scope could change before an announcement.

    Kansas Man Allegedly Claimed He Mapped Rooftops Before Trump Rally

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    A Kansas man allegedly threatened to shoot President Donald Trump — and claimed he had already mapped nearby rooftops — before authorities arrested him ahead of Monday evening’s campaign rally outside Wichita.

    Jaden J. Read, 24, of Clearwater, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 17, and charged by federal criminal complaint with making threats against the president, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.

    The arrest came just two days before Trump’s planned appearance at Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City to campaign for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. The stop was part of the president’s push to rally Republican voters ahead of November’s midterm elections, KMUW reported.

    A Tip Exposes Alleged Threats

    Investigators received a Crime Stoppers tip Oct. 15 directing them to threatening Facebook comments beneath a KAKE News article about Trump’s upcoming visit.

    According to prosecutors, Read called for someone to shoot Trump, then posted another comment claiming he had ammunition and intended to kill the president.

    Authorities subsequently identified two more alleged threats beneath a separate report from KWCH 12 News. In those comments, prosecutors said, Read volunteered to carry out a shooting and claimed to know where Trump would speak.

    “Already mapped out roofs around,” he allegedly wrote.

    KWCH reported that Read was taken into federal custody pending a detention hearing.

    “Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said in the Justice Department announcement.

    Threats Surge As Campaigns Intensify

    The Kansas case comes as the Secret Service confronts a sharp increase in threats against the people it protects.

    In an Oct. 11 interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes, covered by Mediaite, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said threats involving full-time protectees had increased by more than 40% compared with last year. He reported roughly 10,000 threat cases since January.

    That increase covers the agency’s full-time protectees, rather than Trump alone.

    “The world is different than what it was 20 years ago,” Curran told CBS. “You know, social media changes people.”

    The warning extends beyond presidential security. U.S. Capitol Police reported investigating 14,938 concerning statements, behaviors and communications involving members of Congress, their families, staff and the Capitol complex in 2025 — the third consecutive annual increase. Those assessments encompass a broader category than prosecutable threats.

    With candidates making their final appeals to voters, the Kansas arrest puts another alleged threat against the president at the center of an already tense campaign season.

    James Carville Reveals The Democrat Victory He’d Rather See Republicans Win

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    Democratic strategist James Carville wants his party to win big in November — because a narrow victory could hand democratic socialists the keys.

    The veteran operative told Bill Kristol on Bulwark on Sunday that he would actually prefer Republicans holding the House by five seats over Democrats winning by the same margin.

    His concern: A small socialist faction could dictate terms to Democratic leaders.

    “I would rather the Republicans keep the House by five than the Democrats to win by five because if that happens, they’re hostage to the DSA,” Carville said, according to Mediaite.

    For House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Carville warned, that would mean paralysis.

    “Like Hakeem cannot move. There’s no place for him to go.”

    A Majority With Strings Attached

    Carville’s warning comes as the Democratic Socialists of America works to turn primary victories into leverage on Capitol Hill.

    The Wall Street Journal reported that DSA-backed candidates are coordinating to press Jeffries for policy concessions. Four of seven candidates interviewed either declined to commit to supporting him for speaker or said they wanted assurances first.

    In a closely divided chamber, that could give a small bloc considerable bargaining power over Democratic leadership.

    That is the scenario Carville fears: Democrats winning enough seats to take responsibility for governing, while leaving their leaders dependent on a faction pushing them further left.

    “So, I think this is one of these races where margin matters a lot,” he told Kristol. “Margin is winning big, it’s almost as big as winning, which is weird, but yeah, it’s a nightmare, 225 [seats].”

    Maher Sounds His Own Alarm

    Carville is hardly the only prominent liberal raising concerns.

    Bill Maher, the comedian and host of HBO’s Real Time, has warned that the Democratic Party’s direction could cost it his support.

    In his July 31 monologue, Maher said his vote was “in play” if Democrats continued moving toward the DSA. He described the party as being “colonized” and argued that voters should take radical candidates’ stated positions seriously.

    Maher’s objections went beyond campaign branding. He criticized proposals to eliminate police and prisons and overhaul the constitutional separation of powers, arguing that such ideas threaten institutions Americans depend on.

    He also acknowledged that most Democratic politicians do not share those positions, while faulting the party for failing to confront the faction promoting them.

    “I would vote for Sarah Palin before this shit,” Maher said.

    Carville’s latest remarks bring that internal fight directly into the battle for Congress.

    For Democrats, his warning is blunt: Winning the House could come with a price if the deciding votes belong to socialists determined to collect.

    Ilhan Omar Demands Her Passport Back, Accuses Trump Of Political Revenge

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    3
    U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Cori Bush speak at the Mississippi River in Minneapolis asking for President Biden to stop Line 3 pipeline construction.

    Rep. Ilhan Omar is demanding federal prosecutors return her passport, computers and other belongings seized during a search of her Washington home — while accusing the Trump administration of using a criminal investigation to punish a political opponent.

    Attorneys for the Minnesota Democrat sent the Justice Department a letter Friday challenging the search and demanding the immediate return of all property taken by investigators, The Daily Wire reported.

    Agents with Homeland Security Investigations searched Omar’s residence Monday, October 12, under a warrant approved by a federal judge. Items seized included her cellphone, notebooks, personal computers and passport, according to The Wall Street Journal, as cited by the Daily Wire.

    “There is no legitimate basis for any suggestion that she has violated any law concerning her citizenship status,” her attorneys wrote.

    “This vindictive, retributive, and politically motivated criminal investigation into one of the President’s chief congressional critics violates Representative Omar’s constitutional rights and threatens the separation of powers,” they added.

    Omar Fires Back At Trump

    Omar’s response has extended beyond her lawyers’ demands.

    In a Thursday message to supporters, the congresswoman described the experience as frightening but vowed to continue confronting President Donald Trump.

    “It’s been a scary journey but I have always been grounded in my work and ability to provide exemplary service to my constituents,” Omar wrote in a post quoted by the Daily Wire.

    “Trump and his administration have been after me since I arrived in Congress. I have always stood up to him and that will never change.”

    Her office had also rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing following Monday’s search, calling the operation an abuse of federal power directed at a political adversary.

    DOJ Defends The Search

    The Justice Department has disputed the accusation that investigators acted improperly.

    “Our attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with all court orders and legal obligations, as they always do,” DOJ spokesperson Emily Covington told ABC News, according to the Daily Wire.

    Omar’s attorneys also requested recordings made inside her home during the search.

    The timing is another central point of contention. Monday’s operation occurred just 22 days before the November 3 midterms, when Omar is seeking a fifth term.

    ABC News reported that the department has historically advised prosecutors against overt investigative steps involving candidates within 60 days of an election. Omar’s attorneys argue the search violated that longstanding practice.

    What Investigators Are Examining

    Sources told ABC News that the investigation concerns Omar’s immigration paperwork. The Somali-born congresswoman arrived in the United States as a child refugee and became a naturalized citizen in 2000.

    The full scope of the investigation remains undisclosed. The Daily Wire discussed several possible avenues of inquiry, including family immigration records and financial disclosures, but those possibilities should not be confused with publicly announced charges.

    Omar has denied wrongdoing, and ABC News reported she had not been charged with a crime.

    Trump, meanwhile, continued criticizing Omar after the search. Asked Tuesday whether he wanted her deported, he declined to endorse that outcome while attacking her performance in Congress.

    “I don’t take a position,” Trump said, according to ABC News.

    Vice President JD Vance separately said he had received no advance notice of the search and maintained that investigators should follow the evidence.

    Trump Praises Musk’s Genius — Then Twists The Knife

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump has patched things up with Elon Musk, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking a little dig at his billionaire ally.

    Speaking at a rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, Trump was attacking Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs when he pivoted to an unconventional assessment of Musk’s intelligence.

    “First of all, she’s a dumb person. You ever see her?” Trump said of Hobbs, according to The Hill. “I know smart people … from Elon down to [Hobbs], I figure there’s a big gap.”

    Then came the backhanded compliment.

    “No, Elon’s 80 percent super genius, and 20 percent — he got a little problem, I always tell him,” Trump said, before adding: “No, he’s a great guy though.” A transcript of the October 14 rally confirms the exchange.

    The remark offered another glimpse into a relationship that has survived a spectacular public breakup — and a gradual return to political cooperation.

    From White House Ally To Public Adversary

    Musk helped power Trump’s 2024 election effort before becoming a prominent figure in the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which pursued cuts to federal spending and staffing.

    But after leaving his government role in May 2025, the Tesla and SpaceX chief became an outspoken critic of Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending legislation.

    By June, the disagreement had turned into an ugly public feud. Trump threatened to eliminate government contracts and subsidies benefiting Musk’s companies. Musk escalated matters with an unsupported allegation that the administration was withholding Jeffrey Epstein records to protect Trump, Forbes reported at the time. Musk subsequently deleted that post and another endorsing Trump’s impeachment.

    On June 11, Musk publicly stepped back from some of his attacks.

    “I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week,” he wrote on X. “They went too far.”

    How They Found Their Way Back

    The two shook hands at Charlie Kirk’s September 2025 memorial service in Arizona, a visible step toward repairing their relationship.

    The reconciliation also involved work behind the scenes.

    An August Forbes report summarizing reporting by The Wall Street Journal described efforts by Kirk, Vice President JD Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and others to rebuild the alliance.

    By then, Trump and Musk were reportedly speaking roughly once a month. Musk also accompanied the president on his May trip to China, although Trump had privately acknowledged that their relationship would never be quite the same, according to the report.

    Musk Opens His Checkbook Again

    Their renewed cooperation now carries major stakes for Republicans defending control of Congress.

    Axios reported Thursday that Musk gave the Senate Leadership Fund $158 million in September.

    That financial support marks a striking turnaround from last year’s threats to challenge the GOP.

    And while Trump’s Arizona remarks show he still has a jab ready for Musk, he made sure to follow it with a friendly qualification: “He’s a great guy though.”

    Trump Tells New Press Secretary To ‘Reconsider’ Job After Turbulent First Week

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    President Donald Trump’s new press secretary hasn’t finished her first week — and he’s already told her to think about whether she wants to stay.

    Trump told reporters Friday that he advised Katie Zacharia to reconsider the role after a rocky debut and days of scrutiny over her legal credentials, according to The Hill.

    “I said, ‘Honestly, if I were you, I’d reconsider,’” Trump said, describing their conversation.

    “I said, ‘You think about it, but I would reconsider,’” he continued.

    Trump said the decision ultimately belongs to Zacharia and that he would speak with her upon his return from a trip that includes a Georgia rally and time in Florida. He said he wants her “to be happy” and accused the news media of treating her unfairly.

    A Briefing That Became The Story

    Zacharia’s Tuesday debut lasted roughly 14 minutes and included just three questions, from Breitbart, Fox News and the Daily Mail. She also briefly referred to her husband as “my president” before correcting herself — a stumble that quickly became fodder for critics, Forbes reported.

    Former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki compared the appearance to a “Saturday Night Live” skit. Anthony Scaramucci, whose stint as Trump’s communications director lasted just 11 days, publicly started counting down her tenure. Trump initially praised her performance, telling reporters Tuesday, “I thought she was very good.”

    Zacharia told Hannity she had received briefing materials Tuesday morning and had little preparation time, according to Fox News.

    Bar Exam Questions Take Over

    The media has also seized on Zacharia’s failed bar exam and her public identification as a lawyer. Trump described her as an attorney when announcing her appointment.

    That coverage now includes an acknowledgment from Zacharia herself. During Thursday’s appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program, she confirmed that she had not passed the exam and had never retaken it, ABC News reported.

    Earlier Thursday, she told Real America’s Voice that she took the exam after graduating from Pepperdine’s law school in 2011 but considered the results “somewhat inconsequential” because she planned to move to China, where she subsequently worked in international transaction law.

    She also said legal professionals had advised her that she could describe herself as a lawyer providing legal analysis, distinguishing that from an attorney providing legal advice, according to ABC News.

    Questions intensified after she responded to a reporter asking where she passed the bar by referring to her move to China. She later told The New York Times that helicopter noise had prevented her from hearing the question correctly, ABC reported.

    By Friday, Trump was publicly offering his new spokeswoman a chance to reconsider — leaving her future behind the podium unresolved.

    Trump’s Ballroom Megadonors Revealed — And The White House Wants The Leaker

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    Some of America’s biggest companies are helping bankroll President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom — and newly revealed records show the size of their commitments.

    Apple, Nvidia, the Adelson family and Dish Network co-founder Charles Ergen each committed $25 million, according to a Washington Post investigation published Thursday.

    The report, also covered by Mediaite, cites an internal fundraising spreadsheet documenting more than $300 million in contributions and commitments.

    The revelations add fuel to a dispute Democrats have been pursuing for months: whether companies with business before the administration are using donations to a presidential priority to gain access or influence.

    The White House denies improper influence and says private donors are sparing taxpayers the construction bill.

    Who’s Footing The Bill?

    The reported donor list includes technology giants, defense contractors, Republican megadonors and people connected to senior administration officials.

    Among the largest reported contributions and commitments:

    DonorReported Amount
    Apple$25 million
    Nvidia$25 million
    Adelson family$25 million
    Charles Ergen$25 million
    Google$22 million
    Laura & Isaac Perlmutter FoundationMore than $20 million
    Lockheed Martin$10 million
    Microsoft$10 million
    RHI II LLC$10 million
    Palantir Technologies$10 million
    Comcast$7.5 million
    Amazon, Cisco, Meta and T-Mobile$5 million each

    Google’s contribution stems from the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit over YouTube’s suspension of his account following the January 6 Capitol riot, according to the reporting.

    Other contributors include Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and her husband, who committed $5 million, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s son Brandon, whose contribution was approximately $2.5 million.

    Why Democrats Are Raising Alarms

    For Democratic critics, the issue extends beyond the ballroom’s price tag. It concerns the overlap between its benefactors and companies seeking federal contracts, regulatory approvals or favorable outcomes in enforcement cases.

    Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., previously questioned corporate donors about whether any agreements or expectations of government favors accompanied their contributions. Their inquiry also sought information about how donations were solicited and the amounts involved.

    Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has separately pressed previously undisclosed donors about why their contributions remained secret and whether Trump or his representatives offered anything in exchange. Those inquiries predate Thursday’s revelations.

    Donor anonymity is another sticking point. In February, Warren and other Democratic senators reported that the Trust for the National Mall, which handles ballroom donations, declined to release identifying donor information, citing federal disclosure rules. Democrats argue that limited disclosure makes potential conflicts harder to scrutinize.

    According to the Post’s reporting, as summarized by Mediaite, approximately half the contributors had federal contracts during Trump’s second term. The reporting does not establish that donations secured favorable treatment.

    Ergen’s contributions have drawn particular scrutiny because part of his commitment followed Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s decision to drop an investigation involving Dish’s parent company, according to the Post.

    The timing has fueled questions about potential conflicts, but it does not by itself establish an exchange of donations for government action.

    White House Pushes Back

    Trump has said he and private supporters would pay for the project. The Post reported that his name did not appear on the contributor list it obtained.

    White House spokesman Davis Ingle rejected the criticism and vowed to identify whoever disclosed the records.

    The administration will “relentlessly pursue those responsible for this cowardly leak while continuing to protect all those who give,” Ingle told the Post.

    “The same critics who are alleging fake conflicts of interests, would also complain if American taxpayers were footing the bill for these long-overdue renovations,” he said.

    Trump Reportedly Weighs Replacing Susie Wiles As White House Pushes Back

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    President Donald Trump takes questions after signing Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    President Donald Trump is reportedly considering replacing White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles — raising questions about the future of one of his most trusted aides less than three weeks before the midterm elections.

    Four people with direct knowledge of the conversations told Politico’s Playbook that Trump has been asking friends and political allies about Wiles’ performance and floating potential successors, Mediaite reported Thursday.

    Trump forcefully rejected the report, calling it “TOTAL FAKE NEWS” and insisting Wiles retains his “COMPLETE confidence.”

    The reported discussions come as Republicans fight to preserve their congressional majorities and Trump grows frustrated with his political standing, according to Playbook. The report describes private conversations about a possible change, rather than an announced decision to remove Wiles.

    Familiar Names Surface

    Among the names Trump has reportedly floated are Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and New York Yankees President Randy Levine.

    Other potential replacements mentioned in the report include Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

    Wiles’ critics have sought to capitalize on the moment by forwarding unfavorable coverage involving the chief of staff and people close to her, according to Playbook.

    “She’s burned a lot of people,” one Republican operative close to the White House told the newsletter.

    But the White House dismissed the anonymous accounts. Spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said the sources “know nothing,” describing the administration as a “united team focused on his America First agenda – not the egos and political games of anonymous outsiders.”

    Trump also defended Wiles’ loyalty and tenure in his statement to Playbook.

    “Susie Wiles is my loyal and longest serving Chief of Staff — there is a reason for that,” he said.

    Consulting Work Draws Scrutiny

    The speculation follows scrutiny of foreign consulting and lobbying work involving members of Wiles’ political circle, including longtime Trump advisers James Blair and Chris LaCivita, as well as her daughter, Katie Wiles.

    The Financial Times reported that Katie Wiles is a partner at Continental Strategy, a lobbying firm with a $35,000-a-month contract to represent Republika Srpska, the Bosnian Serb entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    The firm said Katie Wiles did not lobby U.S. officials on the client’s behalf. Her role, according to the newspaper, involved communications support for a feasibility study.

    A Central Figure In Trump’s Operation

    Wiles helped guide Trump’s return to the White House before becoming chief of staff at the beginning of his second term.

    She also remains involved in the president’s midterm strategy. The Washington Post reported Monday that Wiles, White House political director Matt Brasseaux and Blair, now an outside adviser, have worked together to determine where Trump can be most useful on the campaign trail.

    The latest political scrutiny follows a difficult personal year. Wiles continued working while receiving treatment for breast cancer after her diagnosis became public in March. On September 16, she announced that pathology results from the Mayo Clinic had come back clear and that she was cancer-free.

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