Marjorie Taylor Greene came into Congress as one of Donald Trump's staunchest defenders. Sworn into office just days before the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, Greene supported the president—and echoed his contention that the 2020 presidential election was 'stolen'—when many in the Republican Party disavowed him.
Now, five years later, Greene will leave Congress having been branded a 'traitor' by the man she once revered. Over the course of just a handful of months, Greene broke with Trump in the most dramatic fashion.
Although Greene had criticized Trump's decision to launch airstrikes on Iran, his support for Israel during the Gaza War, and a lack of sufficient regulation of big technology companies, the final fracture began over Jeffrey Epstein. She condemned Trump's unwillingness to order his justice department to fully release its files on the case and appeared alongside Epstein's victims to force a House vote on the matter.
She also questioned Republican strategy during the recent government shutdown, siding with Democrats in calling on her party to address expiring healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans. Greene publicly berated Trump for what she said was an undue emphasis on foreign policy at the expense of addressing economic and affordability concerns.
Greene insisted that she supported Trump, but she has a view of the 'America First' movement that differs from the former president's. An activist turned congresswoman who made her name railing against the political establishment had now found that the MAGA movement she supported had become the establishment.
As the weight of Trump's power turned towards her ouster, she broke for the exits with a few parting shots, declaring, 'I refuse to be a battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better.'
Throughout her career, Greene embraced controversy. A gym instructor in Georgia, she engaged in politics in 2016 as Trump began his campaign for the presidency, clashing with Democrats and her own party. She promoted baseless conspiracy theories and was ultimately removed from her committee assignments shortly after taking office.
In a brief interview, Trump called Greene's departure 'great news for the country' but acknowledged that he would 'always appreciate Marjorie and thank her for her service.'
While Greene's tenure in Congress may be ending, her future in American politics remains uncertain, leaving the door open for new opportunities as she navigates the evolving political landscape.
