Vice President JD Vance openly identified himself as a conspiracy theorist on December 16, 2025, after being described as such by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in a Vanity Fair profile. At a Uline Inc facility near Allentown, Pennsylvania, Vance addressed questions from reporters regarding Wiles’ remarks.
“Sometimes I am a conspiracy theorist, but I only believe in the conspiracy theories that are true,” Vance stated. He argued that many conspiracy theories eventually prove to be accurate before being recognized by mainstream media, suggesting that “a conspiracy theory is just something that was true six months before the media admitted it.”
These statements were in reaction to Wiles’ comments in her extensive interviews with Vanity Fair, where she mentioned that Vance had been “a conspiracy theorist for a decade.” She also noted that his shift from a Trump critic to a MAGA supporter seemed “sort of political,” highlighting its timing during his Senate campaign.
Wiles participated in 11 interviews with Vanity Fair over several months, offering candid insights into key members of President Donald Trump’s inner circle.
The Vanity Fair interviews, conducted by author Chris Whipple beginning in early 2025, provided an unusual level of access to a typically reserved White House official. The administration supported the project, with several officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, participating in interviews and posing for photographs by Christopher Anderson.
The photographs sparked a secondary debate, with social media users deeming the extreme close-up images unflattering. These photos depicted figures such as Wiles, Vance, Rubio, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in sharp, high-definition detail, prompting widespread online discussion.
In addition to her view of Vance, Wiles offered several other notable observations in the interviews. She labeled Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought as “a right-wing absolute zealot” and described billionaire Elon Musk as an “odd duck” and “avowed ketamine user.” She also expressed initial reservations about Trump’s blanket pardons for January 6 defendants, suggesting only non-violent participants should receive clemency, though she ultimately supported the president’s decision.
Despite the critical characterization, Vance defended Wiles during his appearance in Pennsylvania. He praised her loyalty to the president, calling her the best White House chief of staff Trump could have.
“Susie Wiles, we have our disagreements. We agree on much more than we disagree, but I’ve never seen her be disloyal to the president of the United States,” Vance said.
The Vanity Fair profile led to significant repercussions within the administration, with Wiles quickly distancing herself from the article, labeling it a hit piece on social media.
President Trump defended Wiles, despite admitting he had not read the article, dismissing Vanity Fair and commending Wiles for her “fantastic job” as chief of staff.
Among Wiles’ comments was her assertion that Trump has “an alcoholic’s personality.” Trump concurred with this assessment in a New York Post interview, acknowledging his “possessive and addictive type personality” and highlighting his decision to abstain from alcohol.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended Wiles, describing her as “the most loyal adviser” to the president.
During his Pennsylvania event, Vance also criticized Vanity Fair, suggesting that officials should limit interviews with mainstream media outlets.
In addition to her remarks about Vance, Wiles criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files and commented on other key administration figures. Meanwhile, Republican political commentator and Trump supporter Scott Jennings criticized the Vanity Fair photos during a CNN appearance.