A senior adviser to Representative Nancy Mace's campaign for Governor of South Carolina has resigned in dramatic fashion, publicly accusing the Republican congresswoman of disloyalty to former President Donald Trump.
Adviser's Explosive Exit Over MAGA Allegiance
The resignation of J. Austin McCubbin was announced on Monday, 1 December 2025. In a statement posted on social media platform X, McCubbin declared he was "100% breaking with her campaign out of loyalty to the President." He accused Mace of deciding to "turn her back on MAGA" by aligning with Republicans who have been critical of Trump, specifically naming Senator Rand Paul and Representative Thomas Massie.
McCubbin, who has worked on past campaigns for both Trump and Mace, claimed the final straw was an alleged move by Mace to direct a "personal friend" to fund a seven-figure donation to the Protect Freedom PAC, a political action committee aligned with Senator Paul. This PAC has reportedly spent $456,000 on advertising in South Carolina to support Mace's gubernatorial bid.
Growing Republican Rifts Over Policy and Scandals
This internal campaign drama erupts at a sensitive time for Mace, who is actively seeking Trump's endorsement for her governor's race. It highlights growing tension between the former president and some of his past allies in Congress. Key issues driving this wedge include foreign policy and the long-running controversy surrounding the Epstein files.
Mace was among a small group of House Republicans who voted to force the release of the Epstein documents. According to reports, Trump personally phoned Mace to persuade her against the move, but she refused, citing her personal experience as a survivor of sexual violence as a core reason for her stance. "I think we ran out of patience a long time ago," Mace later said of her decision.
The campaign fired back at McCubbin's allegations, telling Politico that "Mr. McCubbin didn't raise a dime for the campaign" and never showed up for work. They claimed he resigned after his demand for $10,000 a month for services was rejected.
Potential Fallout and a Warning to Trump Voters
In his parting shot, McCubbin urged Trump, his White House connections, and South Carolina voters to "scratch her name from the list." He further alleged that Mace was being used to advance a potential Rand Paul presidential campaign in 2028.
The situation places Mace in a precarious position, potentially mirroring the fate of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene, another occasional Republican critic of Trump, had a very public falling out with him over the Epstein files and has announced she will resign from Congress rather than face a Trump-backed primary challenger.
Reports suggest more Republican lawmakers are considering resignation, frustrated by what they perceive as dismissive treatment from both the White House and congressional leadership. The episode underscores the volatile and loyalty-driven climate within the Republican Party as the 2026 election cycle begins to take shape.
