WASHINGTON D.C. May 8, 2026 — The White House on Friday released a behind-the-scenes video featuring Chief of Staff Susie Wiles discussing the demanding pace of working in President Donald Trump’s administration, which she described as operating on “Trump Time.”
In the 36-second clip, posted to the official @WhiteHouse X account, Wiles — the first woman to serve as White House Chief of Staff — candidly addressed the challenge of keeping up with a president known for his relentless work ethic and limited sleep.
“How do you manage working for somebody who never sleeps and in a White House that operates on Trump Time?” Wiles is asked during her appearance.
She replied with a laugh: “How do all the normal mortals who need to function manage that? I am not one of those people that doesn’t need sleep. I actually do very much.”
Wiles explained how she and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino have divided overnight and early-morning duties to cover the nonstop schedule, a system they have used since the campaign.
“In the campaign when I go to sleep early and Dan Scavino — as many of you know is a night owl — so we divide it and I get the early calls, Dan gets the late calls,” she said. “That’s how we navigate over a couple of years, even if the president doesn’t.”
The remarks were made Thursday evening, May 7, 2026, at the Independent Women’s Gala at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., where Wiles received the Barbara K. Olson Woman of Valor Award.
The White House captioned the video: “A Behind-the-Scenes Look with the Best Chief of Staff”
The post quickly drew reactions online, with supporters praising the administration’s fast-paced results-oriented culture and critics calling it unsustainable. As of Friday evening, the video had been viewed more than 43,000 times on X.
Wiles, a longtime Trump ally who helped lead the 2024 campaign to victory, has been credited by the administration with helping maintain discipline and efficiency in the West Wing during the early months of Trump’s second term.
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