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

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is accused of pitting Vice President JD Vance against Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deflect blame for the Republican midterm defeat and protect her job. She faces potential removal in a post-election Cabinet purge. Wiles reportedly seeks to shift responsibility for the loss, with Pete Hegseth also facing blame over the Iran war. Vance publicly acknowledged the conflict hurt Republican chances, while Rubio's camp may argue Vance mishandled the negotiations. Both Vance and Rubio are leading contenders for the 2028 presidential nomination, making them reluctant to accept blame. Wiles cannot easily fault her own appointees, James Blair and Chris LaCivita, without raising questions about her decisions.