Marjorie Taylor Greene burst onto the political scene as a die-hard defender of Donald Trump. She took her oath of office just days before the chaos of January 6, 2021, when the Capitol was stormed, and during that tumultuous time, she echoed Trump’s claims about the alleged “theft” of the 2020 election, even when others in the GOP turned against him.
Fast-forward five years, and Greene finds herself leaving Congress branded a “traitor” by the very figure she once idolized. What a turnaround! Just months into her tenure, Greene began to dramatically distance herself from Trump and his administration.
Greene had already expressed her disapproval of Trump’s order for airstrikes on Iran and criticized his Israel dealings during the recent conflict in Gaza, but the major fallout came when she confronted him over the Jeffrey Epstein saga. She lashed out at Trump for not taking a firmer stance on releasing documents related to Epstein—a convicted sex offender with ties to the powerful elite — and even teamed up with Epstein’s victims, alongside Democrats, to push for a House vote.
But that wasn’t all. Greene also bickered over Republican tactics during the latest government shutdown, siding with Democrats to urge her party to extend healthcare subsidies for struggling Americans. In a bold move, she slammed Trump for overly fixating on foreign matters, while neglecting pressing domestic economic issues.
“The American people are not waiting for more overseas wars or bailouts for other nations—they need leaders who show up, fulfill their roles, and stand up for them daily!” she passionately tweeted on X earlier this month.
While claiming she still backed Trump, the gap between her beliefs and his vision for the “America First” movement—the rallying cry she once embraced—was becoming more apparent.
From a gym instructor in Ohio who took to politics during Trump’s election bid in 2016, Greene had morphed into an outspoken figure against the political norm. However, the Maga movement she once championed had shifted, and now, ironically, felt more establishment than grassroots.
With pressure mounting from Trump’s political machine for her to step down, she finally took her exit, throwing in parting comments that turned heads.
“I won’t be just another ‘battered wife’ waiting for things to improve… If I’m discarded by Maga Inc due to influence from Neocons and the elite that doesn’t care about everyday Americans, it’s clear that many others have been cast aside as well,” was part of her resignation statement.
Throughout her career, Greene thrived on controversy. Known for promoting wild conspiracy theories dating back to her early political days, including questioning tragic school shootings and alleging ties between top Democrats and pedophilia, she faced backlash when she got to Congress. Although she denounced some of her earlier outlandish views, the House quickly took action to strip her of committee positions shortly after she’d taken her oath.
However, there was a moment when she received political redemption when Republicans regained power, working alongside then Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to unify conservative members. Yet, when McCarthy was ousted, Greene clashed with his successor, Mike Johnson, in a failed attempt to remove him from power. Her tumultuous political path took a wild turn when she was expelled from the House Freedom Caucus in 2023.
Greene became known as a political wildcard—often despised on the left but eyed with skepticism by many in her own party—yet her ties to Trump still granted her considerable clout in Washington.
In a surprisingly candid moment, Trump reacted to Greene’s resignation, declaring it “great news for the country” during a Friday night interview. Later, he posted on Truth Social, noting Greene’s departure, stating she “went bad” but still appreciating her past contributions.
Now, as she heads back to Georgia, Greene speaks of a “new direction ahead.” Although there was buzz about her eyeing the governor’s race next year, she ruled out challenging for that position or the possibility of going after incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Yet her resignation effective from January 5 opens the door for her to potentially change her mind on running, especially in the light of recent political shifts, illustrated by Republican leaders like Brian Kemp, the current governor, who showed it’s possible to win without Trump’s backing.
This transition could allow Greene to redefine her political alignments as the Republican Party navigates the waters of waning public support for Trump’s economic handling and recognizes the limitations on his 2024 candidacy.
At 51, while Greene’s current chapter in Congress finishes, her role in the wider political narrative of America seems far from reaching its conclusion.
