President Donald Trump gave White House chief of staff Susie Wiles a new task force role after Axios reported Katie Zacharia’s five-day stint as press secretary had ended, amid questions over White House staffing.
Trump’s Oct. 19 executive order created the White House Women’s Health Task Force and assigned its co-chair seats to the chief of staff and the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS identified Wiles as a co-chair.
The assignment came three days after Trump rejected reports that he was looking for a new chief of staff. Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn, Trump said, “I could not be more happy with Susie.” He also said he had told Zacharia she could reconsider the press secretary job.
Trump announced Zacharia’s appointment Oct. 9. She succeeded former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and began work Oct. 12. Her Oct. 13 briefing lasted about 14 minutes and included questions from three reporters, The Associated Press reported.
Axios, citing two senior administration officials, reported Oct. 16 that Zacharia had left the job. EconoTimes previously covered her departure.
The Washington Post reported Oct. 13, citing four people familiar with internal discussions, that Trump chose Zacharia without consulting Wiles. It said Wiles and other senior staff were informed before the public announcement. Axios, citing an administration source, reported that Trump told Wiles of his decision and she did not object. Being told of a decision does not establish that Wiles was consulted before Trump made it.
In a separate Oct. 16 report, The Washington Post said the appointment left aides questioning who had authority over White House hiring. The newspaper drew a parallel with staff rivalries during Trump’s first term. Wiles’ task force assignment does not establish that she played a part in Zacharia’s departure.
The order requires the HHS secretary, acting through the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to establish a Women’s Health Division within 90 days of Oct. 19.
