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Good news
Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Trump’s chief of staff says she is cancer-free

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said Wednesday she is free of cancer, six months to the day after announcing her diagnosis. She wrote on X that her pathology tests “came back clear” after a visit to the Mayo Clinic this week. Wiles, 69, kept working from home through six months of treatment. She is the first woman to hold the job.

BBC News, bbc.comPhoto: The White House, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Ages 5–7
Good one to bring up

A woman who helps run the White House was sick with cancer for six months. Today she said her tests came back clear, which means the doctors can’t find any cancer now. She kept doing her job from home the whole time, like doing schoolwork on a sick day. The grown-ups took good care of her.

Why it worksSick, then better, is a story a six-year-old already knows. The sick day keeps it small.

They might ask
“Is she all better?”
Her tests came back clear, so the doctors found no cancer. She kept working the whole time and says she will keep going.

Also written for and .

Ages 8–12
Good one to bring up

In March, Susie Wiles, the president’s chief of staff, said she had breast cancer. She had six months of treatment and worked from home. This week her tests came back clear. A test like that is a report card: it shows what doctors can find right now.

Why it worksDiagnosis, treatment, test, result. A chain they can follow.

They might ask
“How do they know the cancer is gone?”
Tests at the Mayo Clinic this week. Her pathology results came back clear.
“What is a chief of staff?”
The president’s gatekeeper and planner. Wiles is the first woman in the job.

Also written for and .

Ages 13–17
Ask first, then talk

Would you keep working through cancer treatment? Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, did, from home, for six months, and posted the all-clear on X Wednesday. In March she said one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Why say that out loud?

Why it worksTeens know someone who has had cancer. Let them name that person first.

They might ask
“Would you keep working through cancer treatment?”
She did, from home, for six months. Her post gave no treatment details.
“Why do you think she said that out loud?”
In March she said one in eight women are diagnosed, and now she joins their ranks.

Also written for and .

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