As the November mid-term elections approach, tensions within the Trump administration are escalating amid a backdrop of internal conflict and scandal. Key figures such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller are at the forefront of these turmoil-infused environments.
Bessent in Turmoil with Iran and his Own Team
The wave of leaks and behind-the-scenes drama intensified following an October 6th Wall Street Journal article titled “Inside Bessent’s Treasury: Tension, Turnover And Unmet Economic Goals.”
Key revelations spotlight Bessent’s reliance on specific staff members and advisors:
He has ventured into increasingly bold territory, making unilateral decisions that have left even some of his long-standing allies bewildered.
Bessent’s temperament has also become a focal point. Insiders recount instances of him yelling at staff for delays in executing his plans or for not countering negative media coverage effectively. At one point last year, he became so frustrated with the organization of his daily briefing materials that he hurled the binder against a wall.
By the end of August, he took the stage at Treasury to present his economic strategy aimed at resolving the Iran conflict, tying his political future to a military effort that has perplexed both the president and senior advisers for months. Aware that Trump sought an exit from the ongoing hostilities, Bessent managed to persuade him that it was time to shift from military action to economic strategies.
Bessent collaborated closely with a select group of loyal advisors to devise this plan, relying significantly on Gene Lange, a former colleague from his investment firm, Key Square Capital Management.
Following the exit of Hurley from his position, Bessent entrusted Lange with responsibilities in the powerful Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, overseeing issues from money laundering to sanctions, even though he wasn’t appointed to the Senate-confirmed role.
Some foreign policy experts and economists regard Bessent’s economic approach as insufficient to compel Tehran to comply, particularly since it does not directly target China, Iran’s primary trading partner. Insider accounts emphasize that Bessent tends to centralize authority within his large department, often leaning on a small circle of advisors to implement the president’s agenda.
Recently, the Treasury announced David Zervos, a seasoned Wall Street strategist, would become a senior advisor to Bessent.
Among Bessent’s external advisors are economist and television personality Larry Kudlow, former National Economic Council head Lawrence Lindsey, and New York investment banker Alec Ellison.
In June, Bessent cycled through three chiefs of staff before appointing Kate Tyrrell. His first chief of staff, Dan Katz, reportedly had clashes with Bessent, prompting his departure in the fall of 2025 for a senior role at the International Monetary Fund.
The article contains even more details regarding Bessent’s volatile temperament and conflicts with figures such as FHFA Director Bill Pulte, Elon Musk, former Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik.
I previously discussed the Bessent/Pulte conflict. The altercation with Lutnik made its way into the book “Regime Change” by Maggie Haberman and Johnathan Swan, which claims Bessent personally called Lutnik “an idiot” over a minerals deal involving Ukraine, prompting Trump to mock Lutnik as well, as reported by The Hill.
Bessent responded on October 7 during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle”, asserting Fox has become “a shadow of its former self,” and expressed indignation at comparisons to TMZ.
However, as Semafor revealed in September, Bessent’s strife extends beyond the WSJ. He has withdrawn from appearances on Bloomberg TV, and reporters from Bloomberg, WSJ, and some New York Times correspondents were denied access to the August G20 meeting in Asheville. His remaining media engagements now primarily include Fox, Steve Bannon, and Right Side Broadcasting.
Moreover, Bessent has been pressuring Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh with a Treasury bond buyback policy, influencing the supposedly “independent” Fed.
Marco Rubio Under Stephen Miller’s Influence
In another power struggle within the administration, last week, the centrist Substack Zeteo published a piece titled “‘Secretary of Cuck’: How Marco Rubio Learned to Love Waging Trump’s War on the World.”
The article adopts the common DC insider perspective that portrays Rubio as a beacon of decency prior to his entanglement with the Trump administration. Let’s examine some of its pivotal insights:
Rubio has spearheaded a wave of attacks on free speech, overseen the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid, and facilitated Trump’s mass-deportation efforts, often sacrificing human rights and basic decency in the process.
After being appointed as acting National Security Adviser—now a permanent position—Rubio has reportedly spent an inordinate amount of time at the White House, distancing himself from the State Department’s rank-and-file staff while collaborating with Trump’s inner circle.
Sources indicate he has been thoroughly subsumed by Stephen Miller, Trump’s nativist deputy chief of staff and chief policy architect.
Despite their turbulent history, Miller and Rubio have developed a cordial working relationship. In fact, other Trump advisers have expressed skepticism about whether their camaraderie is genuine or merely a politically expedient arrangement. Nonetheless, insiders have noted that their partnership largely consists of Rubio adhering to Miller’s directives. Their frequent communications have rendered their bond stronger than those Miller shares with most other high-ranking officials.
Miller himself finds humor in the extent to which he has dominated a former opponent, according to two sources who are familiar with their interactions.
“Stephen is quite amused that Marco now shares his views…”
The article highlights how, in 2016, Miller, then a staff member to Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions (who would later become U.S. Attorney General), sought to “destroy” Rubio over the Gang of Eight immigration bill, utilizing Breitbart to paint Rubio in a negative light during the primary.
Yet today, Rubio has wholly aligned himself with Trump’s agenda:
Rubio is now complicit in executing some of Trump’s most egregious actions: dismantling U.S. foreign and humanitarian aid; deporting college students based on their speech regarding Israel; transferring Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison without due process; enabling department security agents to aid ICE in its clandestine detention efforts; escalating third-party deportations of immigrants to perilous countries with no ties to them; nearly ceasing refugee admissions except for white South Africans; enforcing a visa ban affecting 75 countries; imposing crippling sanctions on Cuba; supporting the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran; maintaining support for Israel during its operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank; and facilitating military actions under the guise of combating drug trafficking.
A different Zeteo article on Miller describes him as:
The individual derisively termed America’s “prime minister” by fellow members of the Trump administration. While several individuals may hold higher-ranking titles, there is no conventional Secretary of Defense, Justice Department head, Secretary of State, or Department of Homeland Security secretary as we’ve previously known them. The West Wing operates more like a dictatorial regime, utilizing cabinet members and agency heads merely as vessels for Trump’s political desires. The orders often come from Miller, who has so deeply influenced Trump’s circle that he’s commonly referred to within the administration as the “shadow president.”
Even while his policies may be detrimental to Trump’s popularity, Miller seems insulated from the consequences.
Susie Wiles Faces Growing Pressure
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, nominally Miller’s superior, now finds herself under increasing scrutiny as the midterms draw closer.
According to an October 15th report from Politico, Trump has been reaching out to allies to discuss potential replacements for her:
In times of frustration, President Donald Trump has a history of reaching out to friends to solicit their opinions about his advisors and consider possible changes.
Currently, he is inquiring about Susie Wiles, who was once viewed as an unshakeable Chief of Staff.
Sources with direct knowledge of the discussions indicate that Trump’s inquiries have received encouragement from those who oppose Wiles and from individuals who feel “burned” by her robust enforcement policies.
“She’s made a lot of enemies,” remarked a Republican operative familiar with the goings-on.
Trump has floated several candidates for Wiles’ potential replacement, including Stephen Miller, Yankees president Randy Levine, Steve Witkoff, Bill Pulte, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whose associates argue he could help Trump navigate a challenging Democratic Congress.
Trump has also expressed frustration over reports that some long-standing advisors are profiting from foreign consulting ventures, including top Wiles associates James Blair and Chris LaCivita. Wiles’ daughter has been accused of working for a firm tied to Republika Srpska, a pro-Russian entity.
Trump was reportedly unaware of the controversial engagement involving Wiles’ daughter, which has drawn the attention of his rivals and detractors, amplifying the negative scrutiny surrounding Wiles.
The turbulent political landscape within the Trump administration continues to unfold, with new dynamics and conflicts emerging.
A Brief Overview of Further Scandals
Recent developments within Trump’s realm have led to a plethora of scandals:
The Man Who Secured Trump Michigan vs. His Chief Counsel
Ric Grenell, credited with mobilizing Muslim UFC fighters to rally support in Michigan, has found himself at odds with Trump Attorney Alina Habba.
A Brief Biographical Note
She is both Gavin Newsom’s ex and Donald Jr.’s former partner, now serving as the ex-Ambassador to Greece.
The Cryptocurrency Beneficiary
Bo Hines has reportedly benefitted significantly from the cryptocurrency sector.
A Notable Tenure in Press Relations
The shortest-serving White House Press Secretary has also made the headlines recently.
The Key Figure Behind Celebrity Influences
That’s the latest scoop for now.
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