WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has severed ties with one of his key MAGA-world allies, referring to Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as “‘Wacky’ Marjorie” and indicating he would support a challenger against her in the upcoming midterm elections, provided the “right person” steps forward.
Previously a staunch advocate of “Make America Great Again,” Greene was notably seen wearing the iconic red cap during President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address. She often acted as a liaison between Trump and other Republican members on Capitol Hill. However, their relationship has soured amid ongoing disagreements, as Greene has softened her political stance. The three-term congresswoman has increasingly opposed Republican leadership, criticizing them during the recent government shutdown and urging them to devise strategies to assist those losing health insurance subsidies.
Trump accused Greene of veering “Far Left,” stating that her recent behavior has been characterized by constant complaints. He also mentioned Greene’s frustration over his lack of response to her calls, stating, “I can’t take a ranting Lunatic’s call every day.”
In a reply on the social media platform X, Greene claimed that Trump had “attacked me and lied about me.” She included a screenshot of a text she claimed to have sent him earlier, urging the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which she suggested was the catalyst for his reaction.
Greene expressed disbelief at Trump’s efforts to prevent the release of the Epstein files, noting that this issue would be a topic of discussion in the upcoming U.S. House vote.
Greene remarked on her past support for Trump, stating she had invested significant time and resources in his defense, even as many Republicans distanced themselves from him. She concluded, “I don’t worship or serve Donald Trump.”
Trump’s post seemingly tied a bow of finality to fissures that widened following this month’s off-cycle elections, in which voters in the New Jersey and Virginia governor races flocked to Democrats in large part over concerns about the cost of living.
Last week, Greene told NBC News that “watching the foreign leaders come to the White House through a revolving door is not helping Americans,” saying that Trump needs to focus on high prices at home rather than his recent emphasis on foreign affairs. Trump responded by saying that Greene had “lost her way.”
Asked about Greene’s comments earlier Friday as he flew from Washington to Florida, Trump reiterated that he felt “something happened to her over the last month or two,” saying that, if he hadn’t gone to China to meet leader Xi Jinping, there would have been negative ramifications for jobs in Georgia and elsewhere because China would have kept its curbs on magnet exports.
Saying that people have been calling him, wanting to challenge Greene, Trump added, “She’s lost a wonderful conservative reputation.”
Greene’s discontent dates back at least to May, when she announced she wouldn’t run for the Senate against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff, while attacking GOP donors and consultants who feared she couldn’t win. In June, she publicly sided with Tucker Carlson after Trump called the commentator “kooky” in a schism that emerged between MAGA and national security hardliners over possible U.S. efforts at regime change in Iran.
That only intensified in July, when Greene said she wouldn’t run for governor. Then, she attacked a political “good ole boy” system, alleging it was endangering Republican control of the state. Greene embarked on a charm offensive in recent weeks, with interviews and appearances in media aimed at people who aren’t hardcore Trump supporters. Asked on comedian Tim Dillon’s podcast if she wanted to run for president in 2028, Greene said in October, “I hate politics so much” and just wanted “to fix problems” – but didn’t give a definitive answer.
That climaxed with an appearance on Bill Maher’s HBO show “Real Time,” followed days later by a Nov. 4 appearance on ABC’s “The View.” Some observers began pronouncing Greene as reasonable as she trashed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana for not calling Republicans back to Washington and coming up with a health care plan.
“I feel like I’m sitting next to a completely different Marjorie Taylor Greene,” said “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin.
“Maybe you should become a Democrat, Marjorie,” said co-host Joy Behar.
“I’m not a Democrat,” Greene replied. “I think both parties have failed.”
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Jeff Amy contributed reporting from Atlanta. Meg Kinnard can be reached at https://x.com/MegKinnardAP
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