Susie Wiles accused of pitting Vance against Rubio to survive Trump's post-midterm purge

Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, is accused of trying to create conflict between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in order to avoid blame for the Republican's defeat in the midterm elections. The alleged strategy is to shift attention away from her for her role in the election loss, according to several Republican officials and political operatives.

Wiles, who is nicknamed the "Ice Maiden," reportedly wants to protect herself from being removed in a potential post-election Cabinet purge. She has suggested that Rubio should bear some responsibility for the election defeat, though Vance could also face criticism due to his role in Iran peace negotiations.