Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., publicly clashed with President Trump over his foreign policies and endorsement withdrawal, calling his positions not 'America first.' In a CNN interview, she apologized for her role in toxic politics and expressed hope for reconciliation. The feud highlights tensions within the Republican Party, partly tied to upcoming votes on Jeffrey Epstein documents.
The public spat between President Donald Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., escalated last week, raising questions about unity in the Make America Great Again movement. On Friday, Trump revoked his endorsement of Greene, labeling her 'Wacky' and linking her criticisms to his refusal to back her future ambitions. The following day, Saturday, he posted on social media calling her a 'traitor.'
Greene addressed the attacks during an interview on CNN's State of the Union with Dana Bash on Sunday. 'He called me a traitor and that is so extremely wrong,' she said. 'And those were the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger.' She criticized Trump's support for the H-1B visa program, which allows companies to sponsor foreign-born skilled workers, stating, 'Those are not America first positions.' Greene also expressed frustration with his frequent foreign trips, adding, 'I would love to see Air Force One be parked and stay home.'
Pressed by Bash on her past silence regarding Trump's attacks on others, Greene apologized. 'Dana, I think that’s fair criticism,' she replied. 'And I would like to say humbly, I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics. It’s very bad for our country. And it’s been something I’ve thought about a lot, especially since Charlie Kirk was assassinated.' She advocated for kinder political discourse, saying she wanted to 'put down the knives in politics' and focus on common ground among Americans.
Despite the rift, Greene hoped to mend ties with Trump, citing her Christian faith: 'Well, I certainly hope that we can make up... I’m a Christian and one of the most important parts of our faith is forgiveness.' Local Republican leaders in Georgia's 14th Congressional District backed her, with Chairman Jim Tully posting on Facebook that she serves her constituents with 'clarity, resolve, and integrity.'
Greene attributed the break partly to disputes over releasing Jeffrey Epstein documents, though she does not believe Trump is implicated. The House is scheduled to vote this week on a discharge petition by Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., to unseal the files. Massie warned on ABC News that opposing the release could harm Republicans long-term: 'In 2030, he's not going to be the president, and you will have voted to protect pedophiles.' This episode underscores brewing divisions in the GOP.