Media Mogul Meets with White House Chief of Staff

Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner reportedly visited the White House amid concerns over his political ties.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of the global media conglomerate Axel Springer, reportedly met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Wednesday. Axel Springer owns influential outlets like Politico and Business Insider, and has faced scrutiny over its owner's past support for former President Donald Trump.

Why it matters

The meeting between Döpfner and Wiles raises questions about the potential political influence of Axel Springer's media properties, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 midterm elections. There are concerns that Döpfner's past advocacy for Trump could impact the editorial independence of Axel Springer's news outlets.

The details

According to reports, the meeting between Döpfner and Wiles was an "introductory, get-to-know-you" session. However, the timing of the meeting, just a day after Trump's controversial State of the Union address, has raised eyebrows. In 2020, Döpfner reportedly sent an email to top Axel Springer executives asking if they would like to join him in praying for Trump's re-election, though he later claimed the email was meant as an "ironic, provocative statement."

  • The meeting between Döpfner and Wiles took place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
  • Döpfner's email to Axel Springer executives about praying for Trump's re-election was sent in 2020, a year before Axel Springer acquired Politico.

The players

Mathias Döpfner

The chairman and CEO of Axel Springer SE, a global media conglomerate that owns influential outlets like Politico and Business Insider.

Susie Wiles

The current White House Chief of Staff.

Henry Kravis

The co-founder of the private equity firm KKR, which is a principal owner of Axel Springer.

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What they’re saying

“Do we all want to get together for an hour in the morning on November 3 and pray that Donald Trump will again become President of the United States of America?”

— Mathias Döpfner, CEO, Axel Springer SE (The Daily Beast)

“When asked about the message, Döpfner initially denied it existed, going so far as to say: 'It has never been sent and has never been even imagined.' When confronted with a printout of the email, he explained that he may have sent it 'as an ironic, provocative statement in the circle of people that hate Donald Trump.' 'That is me,' he added. 'That could be.'”

— Mathias Döpfner, CEO, Axel Springer SE (The Daily Beast)

What’s next

The White House has not provided any further details on the meeting between Döpfner and Wiles, and it remains to be seen if this interaction will have any impact on Axel Springer's media properties or their coverage of the upcoming midterm elections.

The takeaway

This meeting highlights the potential for political influence in the media industry, especially when powerful media conglomerates like Axel Springer are owned by individuals with strong political leanings. It underscores the importance of maintaining editorial independence and transparency in news organizations, particularly during critical election periods.