Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., on Tuesday blamed her rift with President Donald Trump over the Epstein files for her failed gubernatorial bid, which saw her place last in a five-way primary contest for the Republican nomination.

Mace had long positioned herself as an ally of Trump, but became a champion of releasing the Epstein files, an issue that the Trump administration had sought to let fade in the public eye.

Speaking to NewsNation this week, Mace said that her support for the issue and break with Trump "may have ended my career."

“Let’s be honest, I didn’t go to Washington to take orders from anybody, which is why you do see me scuffle from time to time, which is why I do call out Democrats and Republicans alike,” she added.

Mace has since expressed interest in seeking the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's, R-S.C., Senate seat in a special primary, though she declined to commit to such a bid in the interview.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.