WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump paused during Monday’s women’s health signing at the White House to honor one of the toughest people in his administration. “White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been fantastic. Thank you, Susie,” the President said. Then he shared her news: “As many of you know, Susie recently won her battle against a very tough opponent, breast cancer.”
“It wasn’t easy,” the President said. “We went through it, we got her through it, and she got through it, and she’s tough. But she’s a tremendous fighter, and much like our First Lady, she cares deeply about improving the health of American women.”
He said Wiles “was very excited by this particular meeting,” and pointed to the timing. “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the task force will hold its first meeting today,” he said. “So I want to thank you, Susie. I want to thank Melania. I want to thank everybody here, because everybody here is a big factor.”
Wiles will have a direct hand in the work. The executive order the President signed Monday creates the White House Women’s Health Task Force and names the Chief of Staff as its co-chair, alongside the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The task force will push research, prevention, early detection and treatment for women and girls across the federal government.
Cancer is at the top of the list. The order names cancer among the conditions that need more research and attention, along with heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease. For a Chief of Staff who just won her own fight, the mission is personal. With President Trump behind it, American women will not face that fight alone.
