President Trump did not hold back his criticism of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene even after she announced her resignation from Congress.
The Georgia Republican said Friday she will leave Congress in early January.
“Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene, because of PLUMMETING Poll Numbers, and not wanting to face a Primary Challenger with a strong Trump Endorsement (where she would have no chance of winning!), has decided to call it ‘quits,’” Mr. Trump wrote Saturday on social media.
“Her relationship with the WORST Republican Congressman in decades [Rep. Thomas] Massie of Kentucky, also known as Rand Paul Jr. because he votes against the Republican Party (and really good legislation!), did not help her,” he added.
Still, he recognized that Ms. Greene was a staunch Trump supporter before their falling out.
“For some reason, primarily that I refused to return her never ending barrage of phone calls, Marjorie went BAD,” he wrote. “Nevertheless, I will always appreciate Marjorie, and thank her for her service to our Country!”
In a lengthy statement and video Friday evening, Ms. Greene said she’s resigning because of the split with the president.
“I love my family way too much, and I do not want my sweet district to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the president that we all fought for — only to fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms and, in turn, be expected to defend the president against impeachment after he hatefully dumped tens of millions of dollars against me and tried to destroy me,” she said in the 10-minute video.
“It’s all so absurd and completely unserious,” Ms. Greene added. “I refuse to be a battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better.”
Her resignation will take effect Jan. 5, the day before the House is set to return to Washington after the holidays.
Ms. Greene and Mr. Trump have had a very public breakup spurred by her support of releasing the files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, along with her stances on foreign policy and visas.
Mr. Trump told ABC News in a phone call Friday night that her resignation was “great news for the country.”
Ms. Greene said in the video, “I have never valued power, titles or attention, in spite of all the wrong assumptions about me. I do not cling to those things because they are meaningless and empty traps that hold too many people in Washington.
“My bills, which reflect many of President Trump’s executive orders, like calling for a new census, counting Americans only to draw new districts; making English the official language of the US; making it a felony to medically trans a minor; and other bills, like eliminating capital gains taxes on the sale of your primary home and eliminating H-1B visas, just sit. They all sit, collecting dust.”
Ms. Greene has been one of Mr. Trump’s biggest supporters since the start of her political career five years ago. She spoke about how much of her own time and money was spent on helping him and other Republicans get elected over the years.
She said the president’s attacks against her were “unfair and wrong.”
“Loyalty should be a two-way street, and we should be able to vote our conscience and represent our district’s interests,” she said.
Lindsey McPherson contributed to this report.
