Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has publicly criticized President Donald Trump in a televised interview, marking a definitive break between the congresswoman and her former political ally. The split centers on policy disagreements and personal attacks that Greene says have endangered her family.
In an interview broadcast Sunday evening, Greene accused the Trump administration of failing to prioritize domestic policy concerns over international affairs, a departure from what she characterized as core campaign promises made to American voters.
“For an ‘America First’ president, the number one focus should have been domestic policy, and it wasn’t,” Greene stated. “And so, of course, I was critical, because those were my campaign promises. Once we fix everything here, then fine, we’ll talk to the rest of the world.”
When pressed on whether she still considers herself part of the MAGA movement, Greene drew a distinction between her political philosophy and the president’s. “I am America First,” she said. “MAGA is President Trump’s phrase. That’s his political policies. I call myself America First.”
The president responded Monday morning through social media, questioning Greene’s authenticity and judgment. “She is not AMERICA FIRST or MAGA, because nobody could have changed her views so fast, and her new views are those of a very dumb person,” Trump wrote.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the administration’s record in a statement issued Sunday night, citing progress on border security, inflation, drug prices, tax relief, and immigration enforcement. “As the architect of the MAGA movement, President Trump will always put America First,” Jackson said. “Every single day he’s working hard to continue fulfilling the many promises he made and he will continue delivering.”
The rift between Greene and Trump deepened following her decision to sign a bipartisan discharge petition that forced a House vote compelling the release of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The congresswoman’s support for transparency on this matter put her at odds with the president and party leadership.
Trump subsequently referred to Greene as “Marjorie Traitor Greene” and dismissed her concerns about death threats she says she has received. “I don’t think her life is in danger,” the president said. “I don’t think anybody cares about her.”
Greene announced last month that she will resign from Congress in January, one full year before her term concludes. The Georgia representative, who had previously been among Trump’s most vocal defenders on Capitol Hill, cited the personal attacks and policy disagreements as factors in her decision.
Other Republican lawmakers have privately expressed similar frustrations about the administration’s priorities, though few have spoken as publicly as Greene. These concerns focus primarily on whether the party is adequately addressing Americans’ economic anxieties, particularly regarding the cost of living.
The administration has pointed to declining gasoline prices as evidence of economic progress. Additionally, the president recently issued an executive order directing federal agencies to investigate anti-competitive practices that may be affecting food supply chains and consumer prices.
The public dispute between a sitting president and a member of his own party underscores the tensions within Republican ranks as the administration navigates both domestic challenges and international obligations. How this division affects party unity and legislative priorities remains to be seen.
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