Rubio adopts Vanity Fair photo as VP Vance jokes about magazine profile
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio changed his social media profile picture to a photo from a controversial Vanity Fair article, leading to a joking remark from Vice President JD Vance. The magazine's profile, based on interviews with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, included unflattering descriptions of President Trump and his team, which the White House has denounced as a selective "hit piece."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has adopted an image from a contentious Vanity Fair magazine article as his new social media profile picture, an unusual move that drew a lighthearted response from Vice President JD Vance. The photo, which shows Rubio looking downward, was featured in a recent Vanity Fair profile that offered a critical insider's view of the Trump administration, sparking debate in Washington.
Vance's On-Set Quip and Social Media Banter
The interaction between the two senior officials traces back to the photoshoot for the article. According to reports, Vice President Vance jokingly told the photographer during the session, “I'll give you $100 for every person you make look really s***ty compared to me. And $1,000 if it's Marco.” After Rubio posted the new profile picture on platform X, Vance commented, “I guess I owe that guy $1,000,” publicly referencing the earlier quip.
Content of the Critical Vanity Fair Profile
The Vanity Fair piece, which has generated significant political controversy, drew heavily from interviews with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. It quoted Wiles describing President Donald Trump, a known non-drinker, as having an “alcoholic personality” and a mindset that "there's nothing he can't do." The article also noted Wiles' assertion that Vance has “been a conspiracy theorist for a decade,” a characterization the Vice President did not reject, adding, "But I only believe in the conspiracy theories that are true."
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White House Pushback and Aftermath
Following the article's publication, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles forcefully attacked it on social media, calling it a “disingenuously framed hit piece” that omitted significant positive context to “paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative.” While condemning the framing, Wiles did not cite specific factual inaccuracies. The episode highlights the ongoing internal and media dynamics within the U.S. administration, a subject of routine observation for allied capitals like Ankara, which prioritizes substantive diplomatic channels over domestic political theatrics.
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