Olivia, I so appreciate the depth of sincerity and humility in this post. You and I first “met” on Twitter at a time when you were still processing a lot of the tension of this and it has been so encouraging to watch you walk this journey and, in a very small way, to walk alongside you during it.
You are one of the few “good stories” out of Trump 1.0 and I keep hoping that more like you will come around. It is precisely your ability to look back on those times and recognize the reality of what was going on—and to move forward with a different focus—that makes me admire and respect you so much.
Stay strong, my friend. And keep speaking this truth. You’re doing a world of good. ❤️
Yes, Olivia. Your learnings from your experience can, I believe, outweigh any facilitation of which you were responsible. And I have observed you during the time of your realization of your compliance. I have the feeling that your immediate boss, Mike Pence, has also had some of the same realizations you have had. And I am thankful to you for being so honest, not ony with yourself, but with the rest of us. Thank you!
Susie Wiles was touted as the person who would control Trump in his second term. She has failed miserably. He’s worse than he was in his first term. He does whatever he wants and if anyone pushes back, it appears that he doesn’t listen or take any advice from anybody. It’s a waste of our tax-payer money to have to pay her for her job.
Thanks for sharing your lived experience. As a corporate ombudsman for 15 years, I had similar feelings about the fine line I walked between counseling and facilitating the wise use of executive power vs enabling its damaging abuse. But the article exposed the addictive similarities between alcoholism and POWERism. And now SW has backhandedly admitted that the survival skills she learned enabling an alcoholic father are the same enabling skills she applies with Trump. Indeed, she knows that to do otherwise would only result in her marginalization, or firing. Honorable, well-intentioned and democracy-protecting dissent is extinct in this regime.
Very powerful and honest article. Thank you for modeling how to take responsibility for one's choices, how to face difficult truths. I hope your story about your lived experience will inspire those facing these difficult choices now to find the clarity that you did.
The entire Republican Party is an enabler. All of them. The right wing media, the gop establishment, all of them are complicit in this. I’m glad you are speaking out, but this will not end until the Republican Party ends.
Stand tall, young lady. You saw the Light and ran toward it, for the good of us all. I admire your fortitude, your forthrightness, your heart for what is right.
Time will tell whether she's been effective? At what, allowing brutality, cruelty, and dehumanization? As far as I can tell she has been extremely effective.
Beautifully put Olivia I think I must share this one with a couple of my friends. You and numerous others on here have written books or told us stories that need to be told more often. Many of you have explained like you did today that "HE" and those who control him are dangerous. This also needs to be said more often because the TRUTH is so important in these days and times. Thank You! And also what Susie thinks happens everywhere all the time and then if you stand up for what you believe you lose your job or just walk out. I've been there before and although I lost my job it was well worth it in the end, because the offending factors eventually left that business as well.
Yes. All the MAGA I used to be close with lived in dysfunctionality with their wife or their family was abusive and cruel, so Susie Wiles lived experience tracks. Unfortunately, instead of going into therapy, they want the rest of us to live in their trauma.
I'm not interested in making them unhappy, but they certainly want that for the "libs."
Thanks Olivia for your script on how to survive the White House. Facilitation + promote the resolution of conflict" I had to look up the word. Is not Trumps Chief of Staff there to advise the man or does the Chief just play the roll of a puppet? You have Stephen Miller, Russell Vought , Brandan Carr, JD Vance and the Heritage Foundation cabal running the White House .. Just a massive den of conflict .It sounds like that job could lessen your life expectancy.
I keep asking myself what in the world these people actually want. Are their lives that hollow? Hug your kids, hug your partners, spread and take in joy whenever you can. Communities are built one relationship at a time.
I’ve heard one or more people say that in less than 20 years, no one will admit to having been a Trump supporter. I don’t think that’s true - the core tenets of what makes Trump popular among a sizeable portion of the country have been astonishingly resilient for centuries.
Yep. Notice how Jim Crow rose shortly after "we" fought a war to end slavery. The Trumpers sure didn't invent "America First." IMO corporate backing has enabled this racist, reactionary, anti-democratic era to last as long as it has, and to get as bad as it has -- and boy, did they out themselves big-time by chipping in for Trump's ballroom delusion.
Olivia, I so appreciate the depth of sincerity and humility in this post. You and I first “met” on Twitter at a time when you were still processing a lot of the tension of this and it has been so encouraging to watch you walk this journey and, in a very small way, to walk alongside you during it.
You are one of the few “good stories” out of Trump 1.0 and I keep hoping that more like you will come around. It is precisely your ability to look back on those times and recognize the reality of what was going on—and to move forward with a different focus—that makes me admire and respect you so much.
Stay strong, my friend. And keep speaking this truth. You’re doing a world of good. ❤️
Amen!
Very thoughtful article. Thank you for writing from experience
Yes, Olivia. Your learnings from your experience can, I believe, outweigh any facilitation of which you were responsible. And I have observed you during the time of your realization of your compliance. I have the feeling that your immediate boss, Mike Pence, has also had some of the same realizations you have had. And I am thankful to you for being so honest, not ony with yourself, but with the rest of us. Thank you!
Brave girl, our Olivia!!
Susie Wiles was touted as the person who would control Trump in his second term. She has failed miserably. He’s worse than he was in his first term. He does whatever he wants and if anyone pushes back, it appears that he doesn’t listen or take any advice from anybody. It’s a waste of our tax-payer money to have to pay her for her job.
Thank you for this piece.
The immediate "tell" in Wiles's quotes was her description of Trump as "an alcoholic personality". This is an admission that she is an enabler.
Bang on point.
Thank you.
Thanks for sharing your lived experience. As a corporate ombudsman for 15 years, I had similar feelings about the fine line I walked between counseling and facilitating the wise use of executive power vs enabling its damaging abuse. But the article exposed the addictive similarities between alcoholism and POWERism. And now SW has backhandedly admitted that the survival skills she learned enabling an alcoholic father are the same enabling skills she applies with Trump. Indeed, she knows that to do otherwise would only result in her marginalization, or firing. Honorable, well-intentioned and democracy-protecting dissent is extinct in this regime.
Well said sir.
Very powerful and honest article. Thank you for modeling how to take responsibility for one's choices, how to face difficult truths. I hope your story about your lived experience will inspire those facing these difficult choices now to find the clarity that you did.
The entire Republican Party is an enabler. All of them. The right wing media, the gop establishment, all of them are complicit in this. I’m glad you are speaking out, but this will not end until the Republican Party ends.
So far, you and Michael D. Sellers have my award for deciphering Susie Wiles. She is evil. She owns what actions Trump has taken as much as himself.
Stand tall, young lady. You saw the Light and ran toward it, for the good of us all. I admire your fortitude, your forthrightness, your heart for what is right.
You GO, my dear!
#HoldFast
Time will tell whether she's been effective? At what, allowing brutality, cruelty, and dehumanization? As far as I can tell she has been extremely effective.
Beautifully put Olivia I think I must share this one with a couple of my friends. You and numerous others on here have written books or told us stories that need to be told more often. Many of you have explained like you did today that "HE" and those who control him are dangerous. This also needs to be said more often because the TRUTH is so important in these days and times. Thank You! And also what Susie thinks happens everywhere all the time and then if you stand up for what you believe you lose your job or just walk out. I've been there before and although I lost my job it was well worth it in the end, because the offending factors eventually left that business as well.
Susie Wiles daddy was an alcoholic so she recognized that in trump - her words, not mine - and she got in where she fits in.
No amount of lipstick will make this pig of an administration look good.
Sorry pigs!
Families of alcoholics learn how to tiptoe so the mercurial person doesn’t turn to rage on THEM.
Yes. All the MAGA I used to be close with lived in dysfunctionality with their wife or their family was abusive and cruel, so Susie Wiles lived experience tracks. Unfortunately, instead of going into therapy, they want the rest of us to live in their trauma.
I'm not interested in making them unhappy, but they certainly want that for the "libs."
Thanks Olivia for your script on how to survive the White House. Facilitation + promote the resolution of conflict" I had to look up the word. Is not Trumps Chief of Staff there to advise the man or does the Chief just play the roll of a puppet? You have Stephen Miller, Russell Vought , Brandan Carr, JD Vance and the Heritage Foundation cabal running the White House .. Just a massive den of conflict .It sounds like that job could lessen your life expectancy.
I keep asking myself what in the world these people actually want. Are their lives that hollow? Hug your kids, hug your partners, spread and take in joy whenever you can. Communities are built one relationship at a time.
Thank you for this perspective of reality, Olivia.
I’m glad you’re able to get that off your chest.
I’ve heard one or more people say that in less than 20 years, no one will admit to having been a Trump supporter. I don’t think that’s true - the core tenets of what makes Trump popular among a sizeable portion of the country have been astonishingly resilient for centuries.
It’s depressing, tbh.
Yep. Notice how Jim Crow rose shortly after "we" fought a war to end slavery. The Trumpers sure didn't invent "America First." IMO corporate backing has enabled this racist, reactionary, anti-democratic era to last as long as it has, and to get as bad as it has -- and boy, did they out themselves big-time by chipping in for Trump's ballroom delusion.
A second point that comes to mind re: Susie Wiles is that she is the daughter of Pat Summerall, who was an alcoholic.
She is an ACOA--Adult Child of Alcoholic--and this predisposes her to enabling other alcoholics or addictive personalities.
Many of her quotes sound like someone who has had extensive therapy.